Bombay High Court
Mr. Ratnakar Nilkanth Phadtare vs State Of Maharashtra & Another on 19 July, 2013
Bench: V. M. Kanade, K. R. Shriram
1/32
(WP 5987.13 with six
other Writ Petitions)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 5987 OF 2013
Mr. Ratnakar Nilkanth Phadtare
and Others ....Petitioners.
V/s
State of Maharashtra & Another ..... Respondents.
Mr. A.V. Anturkar i/b Mr. Sugandh B. Deshmukh for the
Petitioners.
Mr. S.K. Shinde Government Pleader alongwith Mr. A.B.
Vagyani, AGP for the State.
ALONGWITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 6206 OF 2013
Shri Avniash R. Pawar and Others ..... Petitioners.
V/s
State of Maharashtra & Others. ..... Respondents.
Mr. A.V. Anturkar i/b Mr. Sugandh B. Deshmukh for the
Petitioners.
Mr. S.K. Shinde Government Pleader alongwith Mr. A.B.
Vagyani, AGP for the State.
::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:33 :::
2/32
(WP 5987.13 with six
other Writ Petitions)
ALONGWITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 6129 OF 2013
Shri Vijay Tukaram Lokhande
and Others ..... Petitioners.
V/s
State of Maharashtra & Others. ..... Respondents.
Mr. S.S. Pakle i/b Mr. Avinash R. Belge for the Petitioners.
Mr. S.K. Shinde, Government Pleader alongwith Mr. A.B.
Vagyani, AGP for the State.
ALONGWITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 6205 OF 2013
Mr. Vijay Anantrao Kharade .... Petitioner.
V/s
State of Maharashtra ..... Respondent.
Mr. S.R. Ganbavale i/b Mr. Sangramsingh Yadav for the
Petitioners.
Mr. S.K. Shinde, Government Pleader alongwith Mr. A.B.
Vagyani, AGP for the State.
ALONGWITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 6236 OF 2013
Raju Rajayya Gangegi & Others .... Petitioners.
V/s
State of Maharashtra & Another ..... Respondents.
::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:33 :::
3/32
(WP 5987.13 with six
other Writ Petitions)
Mr. R.S. Apte, Senior Counsel i/b Mr. A.R. Gole for the
Petitioners.
Mr. S.K. Shinde, Government Pleader alongwith Mr. A.B.
Vagyani, AGP for the State.
ALONGWITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 6237 OF 2013
Monica Bhimsen Ingle & Others .... Petitioners.
V/s
State of Maharashtra & Another ..... Respondents.
Mr. R.S. Apte, Senior Counsel i/b Mr. A.R. Gole for the
Petitioners.
Mr. S.K. Shinde, Government Pleader alongwith Mr. A.B.
Vagyani, AGP for the State.
ALONGWITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 6273 OF 2013
Ansari Salim Ahmed Khurshid Ahmed .... Petitioner.
V/s
State of Maharashtra & Another ..... Respondents.
Mr. Ramesh Dube Patil i/b M/s Jay & Co. for the Petitioner.
Mr. S.K. Shinde, Government Pleader alongwith Mr. A.B.
Vagyani, AGP for the State.
::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:33 :::
4/32
(WP 5987.13 with six
other Writ Petitions)
CORAM: V. M. KANADE &
K. R. SHRIRAM, JJ.
DATE: 19th July, 2013 P.C.:- (Per V. M. Kanade, J.)
1. Leave to amend is granted to the Petitioners to delete the Corporation as party-respondents in those Petitions where Corporation is added as party-respondents.
2. Heard.
3. Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith. Respondents waive service. By consent of the parties, matter is taken up for final hearing.
4. Petitioners in these Petitions which are filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India are seeking an appropriate writ, order and direction for quashing and setting aside the Ordinance No.XI of 2013, namely the "City of Mumbai Primary Education, Maharashtra Primary Education, the Hyderabad Compulsory Primary Eduction and the Madhya Pradesh Primary Education [Repeal] Ordinance 2013", published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette on 1st July 2013, as illegal and bad in law. They are also seeking an interim relief that pending the hearing and final disposal ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:33 ::: 5/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) of these Petitions, this Court may be pleased to grant stay to the effect and operation of the said Ordinance.
5. Petitioners in some of the Petitions are members of the Primary Election School Board of Pune Municipal Corporation, Thane Municipal Corporation and Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation.
6. The impugnedig Ordinance has been issued on 01/07/2013 by His Excellency the Hon'ble Governor of the State of Maharashtra. The said Ordinance has been issued to repeal the City of Mumbai Primary Education Act, the Maharashtra Primary Education Act, the Hyderabad Compulsory Primary Education Act, 1952 and the Madhya Pradesh Primary Education Act, 1956. In the preamble to the said Ordinance, it has been stated that the said four Acts have been enacted for the purpose of securing development and expansion of primary education and are made applicable in certain areas of the State of Maharashtra. It is further stated that there is no uniformity in the provisions of the said Acts. It is further stated that Article 21A has been inserted in the Constitution of India which provides for free and compulsory education to all children of the age of 6 to 14 years as a fundamental right and that, to give effect to the said constitutional amendment, the Government of India has enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:33 ::: 6/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) Education Act, 2009 which has been brought in force with effect from 01/04/2010. It is also observed that some of the provisions of the said State Acts have become void in view of the said Central Act and, therefore, it is expedient to repeal the said Acts and since both the Houses of the State Legislature are not in session, the Governor of Maharashtra, in exercise of powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 213 of the Constitution of India, has been pleased to promulgate the said Ordinance. Section 3 of the said ordinance repealed the said 4 Acts. Section 3(1) and (2)(a)(b)(c) of the said Ordinance read as under:-
"3. (1) On the commencement of the City of Mumbai Primary Education, the Maharashtra Primary Education, the Hyderabad Compulsory Primary Education, and the Madhya Pradesh Primary Education (Repeal) Ordinance, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as "the said Ordinance")
(a) the City of Mumbai Primary Education Act;
(b) the Maharashtra Primary Education Act;
(c) the Hyderabad Compulsory Primary Education Act, 1952; and
(d) the Madhya Pradesh Primary Education Act, 1956, shall stand repealed.
(2) On and from the date of commencement of the said Ordinance,-
(a) the School Boards, Local Committees or any other Committees or Boards constituted ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:33 ::: 7/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) under the repealed Acts and the rules made thereunder, shall stand dissolved and the members shall vacate their offices;
(b) the concerned local authority may constitute School Boards, Local Committees or any other Committees or Boards as per their requirements and in accordance with the provisions of the law applicable to such local authority;
(c) all properties movable and immovable, and interests of whatever nature and kind therein, vested in the School Boards and Local Committees, immediately before the commencement of the said Ordinance shall be deemed to be transferred to, and shall vest in the concerned local authority subject to all limitations and conditions and rights or interests of any person, body or authority in force or subsisting immediately prior to such commencement; ....."
Sub-section (3) of section 3 speaks about saving as a result of repeal and it reads as under:-
"(3) The repeal of the Acts under sub-
section (1) shall not affect-
(a) the previous operation of the repealed Acts or anything duly done or suffered thereunder;
(b) any agreement, contract, right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 8/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) accrued or incurred under the repealed Acts;
(c) any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed under the repealed Acts;
(d) any investigation, legal proceedings or remedy in respect of any such agreement, contract, right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid; and any such investigation, legal proceedings or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced and any such investigation, legal proceedings or remedy may be imposed, as if the repealed Acts had not been repealed;
(e) any appointments made by the School Boards and Local Committees, as per the Government orders, issued from time to time ; and
(f) subject to the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, the schools established under the repealed Acts.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, the expression "School Boards and Local Committees" means the Boards and Committees dissolved under clause (a) of sub-section (2).
7. The grievance of the Petitioners is that as a result of ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 9/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) repeal of the Maharashtra Primary Education Act and the other Acts, the School Boards, Local Committees etc. stand dissolved. It is submitted that the Boards were carrying out various functions as enumerated under the Bombay Primary Education Act which was renamed as Maharashtra Primary Education Act and since, by this Ordinance, the said Boards are dissolved there is a vacuum created as a result of which the management and administration of all these Primary Schools has been put into disarray resulting in chaos. It is submitted that the existing Boards and Local Committees have not been continued till constitution of new Committees either under the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 or under any new Act.
It is, therefore, submitted that the said Ordinance is arbitrary, unworkable and is liable to be stayed.
8. Mr. Apte, the learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the the Petitioners in Writ Petition Nos. 6236/2013 and 6237/2013 submitted that the said Ordinance in terms states that Local Authorities may constitute School Boards, Local Committees or other Committees in accordance with the provisions of the law applicable to such Local Authorities. He submitted that the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949 and more particularly Section 4(2) in terms provides that Local Corporation shall perform its duties in accordance with the provisions of the Bombay Primary ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 10/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) Education Act, 1947. It is, therefore, submitted that the doctrine of incorporation by reference would apply in the present case and, as such, even if Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 which is now Maharashtra Primary Education Act, is repealed, by virtue of incorporation of the provisions of the said Act by reference, the provisions of the said Act will continue and, therefore, the Local Authority under the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act will continue to exist and would not stand dissolved as per clause 3(2)(a) of the said Ordinance. He has relied upon number of judgments on this point. He has relied upon the following judgments of the Apex Court.
(1) Ram Sarup v. Munshi1 (2) Narottamdas vs. State of M.P and Others. 2 (3) Bolani Ores Ltd vs. State of Orissa3 (4) Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. vs. Union of India and Ors.4 (5) M/s Onkarlal Nanlal vs. State of Rajasthan and another5
9. Mr. Anturkar, the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of some of the Petitioners in Writ Petition Nos. 5987/2013 1 AIR 1963 SC 553 2 AIR 1964 SC 1667 3 (1974) 2 SCC 777 4 (1979) 2 SCC 529 5 (1985) 4 SCC 404 ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 11/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) and 6206/2013 has also relied upon the Judgment of the 1 Supreme Court in State of M.P. vs. M.V. Narsimhan
10. It is further submitted that School Committees as envisaged under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and the School Boards as envisaged under the Primary Education Act and the Provincial Municipal Corporation Act are distinct and separate and their functions and area of operation are also not the same. It is, therefore, submitted that though it is urged that the School Committees have been formed, these School Committees are formed to monitor the management of the Boards and the Schools and not to manage the affairs of the Schools. It is, therefore, submitted that either the Ordinance issued by the Governor of Maharashtra may be stayed or, in the alternative, it may be clarified that by virtue of section 4(2), as a result of doctrine of incorporation by reference, though the said provisions have been repealed, they stand incorporated in the said sub-clause and, as such, the Corporation is entitled to continue the operation of the said School Boards.
11. On the other hand, Mr. S.K. Shinde, the learned Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the State, submitted that the scope and power of this Court to interfere 1 (1975) 2 SCC 377 ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 12/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) in the Ordinance which has been issued by the Governor of Maharashtra while exercising his power under Article 213 is quite limited. He has relied on various judgments of the Apex Court and this Court on the said point. He invited our attention to the affidavit-in-reply which has been filed today and has submitted, pointing out para 15 of the said reply, that out of 1 lakh and odd cases, School Committees have been constituted in respect of more than 80,000 Schools and the said School Committees have become operational.
ig He invited our attention to various monies which have been spent by Government of Maharashtra and Central Government on establishment of new Schools and also the amount which has been spent by the Central Government and the State Government for the purpose of enforcement of the Central Act. He submitted that the submissions made by the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners that by virtue of section 4(2), the provisions of Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 would stand incorporated in the said sub-section is without any substance. He submitted that, by the said sub-section, only duties imposed on the Corporation in respect of Bombay Primary Education Act would be performed in accordance with the provisions of the said Act. He submitted that, therefore, entire provisions of Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 did not stand incorporated. He, therefore, submitted that these Petitions are liable to be dismissed.
::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 13/32(WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions)
12. We have heard all the learned Counsels at length.
Before taking into consideration the rival submissions, brief background of various Acts which have been passed from time to time and provisions made in the Constitution of India in respect of education will have to be taken into consideration.
13. The subject of education is found in Concurrent List-III at Entry 25 which reads as under:-
"25. Education, including technical education, medical education and universities, subject to the provisions of entries 63, 64, 65 and 66 of List I; vocational and technical training of labour."
Article 21A was inserted in the Constitution by the Constitution of India (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 with effect from 1-4-2010, which reads as under:-
"21A. Right to education.- The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine."
14. So far as the primary education is concerned, in the City of Bombay, there was a Act known as City of Bombay ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 14/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) Primary Education Act, 1920. Similarly, Bombay Municipal Corporation Act, 1888 under section 50H provided for appointment of members of Education Committee. So far as the Bombay area of the State of Maharashtra is concerned, excluding the Greater Bombay, Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 was made applicable, which Act was passed to provide for compulsory primary education and to make better provisions for the management and control of primary education in the province of Bombay. Similar Act which is applicable to the area of State of Bombay was passed in 1952 which was Hyderabad Compulsory Primary Education Act, 1952. Similar Act was passed viz the Madhya Pradesh Primary Education Act, 1956 and the provisions of the said Act were made applicable to the Vidarbha area which merged in the State of Bombay after reorganization of States in 1950. The Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 envisaged that for the management of these primary schools a School Board was to be constituted. In the said Act, "Approved School" was defined as primary school maintained by the State Government or by the Board or Zilla Parishad or by authorized municipality etc. The School Board was constituted under section 3 and the constitution of School Boards was prescribed under section 4. Some of the members of the Board were to be elected by the authorized municipality. The term/tenure of the members of the Board was also prescribed under the said provision. It also ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 15/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) prescribed the provision for disqualification, removal procedure on disqualification, powers, duties and functions of Zilla Parishads, Authorized Municipalities and Municipal School Boards. Section 18 provided for powers, duties and functions of Municipal School Boards. Section 18 of the said Act is a relevant provision which reads as under:-
"18. Powers, duties and functions of Municipal School Boards:- (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, the municipal school board shall be responsible for the management and control of all primary schools which vest in the authorised municipality and for the control of all other approved schools within the area of the authorised municipality excepting such as are maintained by the [State] Government; and the board shall exercise such powers and perform such duties and functions of the authorised municipality in respect of primary education as may be prescribed.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, a municipal school board shall perform the following duties and functions, namely :-
(a) to prepare schemes to be submitted by the authorised municipality to the [State] Government for expansion of primary education and to carry out the provisions of such scheme;
(b) to disburse monies from the primary education fund in accordance with the ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 16/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) provisions of such scheme.
(c) to perform the duties and functions specified in Clauses (f) to (l) and (n) of sub-
section (2) of Section 13;
(d) to perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed;
(3) The municipal school board shall, with the sanction of the Director, make regulations laying down the days, the time and the periods on each day during which a child shall be present for instruction at an approved school."
The administrative machinery was provided under section 20. Selection of staff and appointment of teachers was prescribed under section 23. Preparation of Scheme was provided under sections 25, 26, 27 and 28. The power was given to the State Government under section 56 for dissolution or supersession of school board in certain circumstances. However, under section 56(2)(b) State Government was authorized to appoint such person or persons to exercise all powers and perform the duties of the Board during the period of dissolution or supersession. The said section 56(2)(b) reads as under:-
"56. Dissolution or supersession of school board in certain circumstances :- (1)..............................
(2) When the school board is dissolved ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 17/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) or superseded, the following consequences shall ensue-
(a) .........
(b) all powers and duties of the board shall, during the period of dissolution or supersession, be exercised and performed by such person or persons as the [State] Government may form time to time appoint in this behalf."....
The Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 repealed the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1923. However, by a proviso, it was provided that the existing Board under the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1923 shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties and functions and shall be subject to all the rights and liabilities as if it is constituted under this Act. Section 64 of the said Act, 1947 is therefore relevant and it reads as under:-
"64. Repeal and transitory provision relating to school boards:-
The Bombay Primary Education Act, 1923 (Bom. IV of 1923), is hereby repealed:
Provided that until a new school board is constituted under Section 4, any existing school board under the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1923 (Bom. IV of 1923), shall exercise all the ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 18/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) powers and perform all the duties and functions and shall be subject to all the rights and liabilities as if it is constituted under this Act."
Thereafter, the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949 was passed. From section 4(2) of the said Act, it is apparent that provisions of Bombay Municipal Corporation Act were incorporated by reference.
15. By the Constitution of India (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, Article 21A was inserted in Part-III of the Constitution and right to education to all the children of the age of 6 to 14 years was made a fundamental right and duty was caste on the State to provide free and compulsory education to these children.
16. In order to give effect to the said fundamental right of education, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 was passed. In Chapter-III of the said Act, duties of appropriate government, local authority and parents have been mentioned. Similarly, in Chapter-IV, responsibilities of schools and teachers are provided. Section 21 provides for constituting a School Management Committee. Section 22 prescribes that the School Management Committee shall prepare a School Development Plan. Sections 21 and 22, therefore, are relevant which read ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 19/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) as under:-
"21.(1) A school, other than a school specified in sub-clause (iv) of clause (n) of section 2, shall constitute a School Management Committee consisting of the elected representatives of the local authority, parents or guardians of children admitted in such school and teachers:
Provided that atleast three-fourth of members of such Committee shall be parents or guardians:
Provided
further that proportionate
representation shall be given to the parents or guardians of children belonging to disadvantaged group and weaker section:
Provided also that fifty per cent of Members of such Committee shall be women.
(2) The School Management Committee shall perform the following functions, namely:-
(a) monitor the working of the school;
(b) prepare and recommend school development plan;
(c) monitor the utilisation of the grants received from the appropriate Government or local authority or any other source; and
(d) perform such other functions as may be prescribed."
"22. (1) Every School Management Committee, constituted under sub-section (1) of section 21, ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 20/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) shall prepare a School Development Plan, in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The School Development Plan so prepared under sub-section (1) shall be the basis for the plans and grants to be made by the appropriate Government or local authority as the case may be."
Section 21, therefore, provides for a School Management Committee consisting of the elected representatives of the local authority, parents or guardians of children admitted in such school and teachers and that fifty percent of members of such Committee shall be women. In the Rules which are framed under the said Act, Part-V deals with School Management Committee which provides for composition and functions of the School Management Committee for the purposes of section 21. Sub-clause (6) of Rule 13 of the said Rules provides for functions which are to be performed by the School Management Committee which reads as under:-
"(6) The School Management Committee shall, in addition to the functions specified in clauses
(a) to (d) of section 21(2), perform the following functions, for which it may constitute smaller working groups from amongst its Members:
(a) communicate in simple and creative ways to the population in the neighbourhood of the school, the rights of the child as enunciated in the Act; as also the duties of the State Government, local ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 21/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) authority, school, parent and guardian;
(b) Ensure the implementation of clauses
(a) and (e) of section 24 and section 28,
(c) Monitor that teachers are not burdened with non academic duties other than those specified in section 27;
(d) Ensure the enrolment and continued attendance of all the children from the neighbourhood in the school;
(e) igMonitor the maintenance of the norms and standards prescribed in the Schedule.
(f) Bring to the notice of the local authority any deviation from the rights of the child, in particular mental and physical harassment of children, denial of admission, and timely provision of free entitlements as per section 3(2).
(g) Identify the needs, prepare a Plan, and monitor the implementation of the provisions of Section 4.
(h) Monitor the identification and enrolment of, and facilities for learning by disabled children, and ensure their participation in, and completion of elementary education.
(i) Monitor the implementation of the Mid-
Day Meal in the school.
(j) Prepare an annual account of receipts ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 22/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) and expenditure of the school."
17. On 01/04/2013, Governor of Maharashtra has issued an Ordinance. Under sub-clause (a) of sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the said Ordinance, the existing School Boards have been dissolved and under sub-clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section 3, the local authority is permitted to constitute School Boards. The repeal and savings clause has practically saved all other existing provisions till the new Act comes into force. However, the existing Boards have not been saved as rightly contended by the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners.
18. Taking into consideration the aforesaid background of the various Acts and the constitutional provisions which have been amended from time to time, rival submissions will have to be taken into consideration.
19. The first question is: whether this Court, while exercising its writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, can set aside the Ordinance which has been issued by the Governor under Article 213 of the Constitution of India. The law on that point is quite well settled and the scope and power of this Court is very very limited. The Apex Court in K. Nagraj and Others vs. State of ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 23/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) Andhra Pradesh and Another1 has very succinctly summarized the said power in para 31, which reads as under:-
"31. It is impossible to accept the submission that the Ordinance can be invalidated on the ground of non-application of mind. The power to issue an Ordinance is not an executive power but is the power of the executive to legislate. The power of the Governor to promulgate an Ordinance is contained in Article 213 which occurs in Chapter IV of Part VI of the Constitution. The heading of that Chapter is "Legislative Power of the Governor". This power is plenary within its field like the power of the State Legislature to pass laws and there are no limitations upon that power except those to which the legislative power of the State Legislature is subject. Therefore, though an Ordinance can be invalidated for contravention of the constitutional limitations which exist upon the power of the State Legislature to pass laws it cannot be declared invalid for the reason of non-application of mind, any more than any other law can be. An executive act is liable to be struck down on the ground of non-
application of mind. Not the act of a
Legislature."
It is not necessary to refer to other judgments of the Apex Court including the judgment in A.K. Roy vs. Union of India and another2 wherein this position has been dealt with at 1 (1985) 1 SCC 523 2 AIR 1982 SC 710 ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 24/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) length and other subsequent judgments.
20. Taking into consideration the aforesaid settled position in law, we are unable to accept the submission of Mr. Anturkar, the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners that the said Ordinance is liable to be struck down on the ground that it is arbitrary and unworkable since it has created a vacuum upon dissolution of the Boards.
21Perusal of the various provisions which have been referred to above of the various Acts, the Central Act viz.
the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and the State Acts viz. Bombay Primary Education Act and the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, reveals that the School Committees which are constituted under the Central Act and Rules framed thereunder and the Boards constituted under the State Act operate in different fields and the School Committees appear to be monitoring agencies to monitor the management of the Schools in all respect. The contention of the learned Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the State that School Committees have started functioning in more than 3/4 th of the Schools and, therefore, dissolution of the Boards is taken care of by constituting School Committees cannot be accepted.
::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 25/32(WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions)
22. Whenever earlier Acts were repealed, care was taken to ensure that existing Bodies continue till a new Body under the new Act is constituted which is evident from section 65 of the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 which repealed the old Act of 1923 and, by a proviso, existing Boards were continued for a brief period of time. Even under section 56, power was given to the Government to dissolve or supercede the school board and the Government was also empowered to appoint the persons to do the functions of the dissolved board. In the present case, such a Body has not been constituted.
23. So far as the second submission made by Mr. R.S. Apte, the learned Senior Counsel and Mr. Anturkar, the learned Counsel, both appearing on behalf of the Petitioners is concerned, namely, that by adopting the principle of doctrine of incorporation by reference, though Bombay Primary Education Act is repealed, by virtue of reference made to the said provisions which are incorporated under section 4(2) of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, the said Boards would continue to exist in spite of dissolution of the Boards, the same will have to be accepted. Section 4(2) of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949 reads as under:-
::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 26/32(WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) "4. Municipal authorities charged with execution of the Act.
(1) ................
(2) The duties imposed on the Corporation in respect of primary education shall be performed in accordance with the 'provisions of the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947, and for the purposes of the said Act, the Corporation shall be deemed to be an authorized municipality within the meaning of the said Act with power to control all approved schools within the City, and to appoint an Administrative Officer."
The sub-section (2) of section 4, therefore, clearly stipulates that the duties imposed on the Corporation in respect of primary education shall be performed in accordance with the provisions of the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 and it is further clarified that, for the purpose of the said Act, the Corporation shall be deemed to be an authorized municipality. Perusal of the said provision, therefore, clearly reveals that the provisions of the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 have been incorporated by reference under sub- section (2) of section 4 of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949.
::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 27/32(WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions)
24. The submission made by the learned Government Pleader that only duties of the Corporation under the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 were incorporated is without any substance since under the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, substantive provisions have been made for the purpose of controlling, administering and managing the Primary Schools. Section 95 of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949 provides for estimates of income and expenditure to be prepared annually by Commissioner. Section 63 lays down duties and power of the Municipal Authorities and Officers as also Obligatory and Discretionary Duties of the Corporation. Sub- section (15) of section 63 prescribes for maintaining, aiding and suitably accommodating stocks for primary education. Sub-section (21) of section 66 speaks about the furtherance of educational objects other than those mentioned in clause (15) of section 63 and making grants to educational institutions within or without the City. Sub-section (2) of section 67 provides that except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the municipal government of the City vests in the Corporation. The contention of the learned Government Pleader that the Corporation is only required to do duties which have been mentioned under the provisions of the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947 is therefore without any substance since the Act which has come into force in 1949 specifically vests all the power of primary ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 28/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) education in the Authorities of the Corporation.
25. It is a well settled position in law that the scope and power of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for quashing and setting aside the Ordinance issued by the Governor in exercise of his power under Article 213 of the Constitution of India is very very limited. It is not necessary to refer to various judgments of the Apex Court and this Court on this point. We are, therefore, at this stage, not inclined to grant stay to the operation of the said Ordinance. However, a careful perusal of the said Ordinance indicates that except dissolution of the School Boards and Local Committees, all other aspects have been saved by the said Ordinance till the Act is passed by the legislature. However, by Section 3(2)(a), the School Boards, Local Committees stand dissolved and under section 3(2)(b) the local authority is empowered to constitute School Boards, Local Committees etc.
26. The doctrine of incorporation by reference has been succinctly stated by the Apex Court in State of Maharashtra vs. M.V. Narsimhan1 and in para 4, the Apex Court has observed as under:-
1 (1975) 2 SCC 377 ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 29/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) "4. The question that arises for consideration is whether the subsequent amendments to Section 21 of the Penal Code after its incorporation in the Act would have to be read into the Act or not. It is true that if the doctrine of legislation by incorporation is strictly applied in this case, then the definition of Section 21 of the Penal Code prior to its amendment by Act II of 1958 and Act XL of 1964 would alone stand and, if this is so, the respondent would not be a public servant within the meaning of Section 21 of the Penal Code. It is well settled that where the subsequent Act incorporates a provision of the previous Act, the position is that the borrowed provision is bodily lifted from the previous Act and placed in the subsequent Act and becomes an integral and independent part of it so as to remain unaffected by any repeal, change or amendment in the previous Act. In Clarke vs. Bradlaugh [(1881) 7 QBD 63, 69 : 51 LJQB 1 : 46 LT 49], Brett, L.J. observed as follows:
....... but there is a rule of construction that, where a statute is incorporated by reference into a second statute, the repeal of the first statute by a third does not affect the second.
These observations were noticed and approved by this Court in Ram Sarup v. Munshi [(1963) 3 SCR 858, 868-869: AIR 1963 SC 553], where this Court made the following observations:
Where the provisions of an Act are incorporated by reference in a later Act ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 30/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) the repeal of the earlier Act has, in general, no effect upon the construction or effect of the Act in which its provisions have been incorporated. The effect of incorporation is stated by Brett, L.J in Clarke v. Bradlaugh :
Where a statute is incorporated
by reference into a second statute
the repeal of the first statute by a
third does not affect the second.
In the circumstances, therefore, the repeal of the Pubjab Alienation of Land Act of 1900 has no effect on the continued operation of the Pre-emption Act and the expression 'agricultural land' in the later Act has to be read as if the definition in the Alienation of Land Act had been bodily transposed into it."
Thereafter, in para 5 of the said judgment reference is made to the judgment in re Wood's Estate, Ex parte her Magesty's Commisioner of Works and Buildings [1886) 31 Ch D 607, 615-616 : 55 LJ Ch), in para 6 reference is made to Craies on Satute Law and in para 7 after referring to the Judgment of the of the Privy Council, in para 8 the Supreme Court has observed as under:-
"8. Thus the position is that after the provision of the previous Act is incorporated in the subsequent Act, the offspring, namely the incorporated provision, survives even if the previous ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 31/32 (WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions) Act is repealed, amended, declared a nullity or erased from the statute book.
The High Court appears to have relied on all these decisions in order to come to its conclusion that as the Act has incorporated the provisions of Section 21 of the Penal Code in Section 2 thereof, any amendment in the previous Act, namely the Penal Code, will not affect the subsequent Act, namely the Prevention of Corruption Act."
27. In the present case also, therefore, in our view, the said principle of incorporation by reference would squarely apply and the provisions of the Bombay Primary Education Act will have to be read under the said sub-section (2) as if they have been reproduced in the said sub-clause. In our view, therefore, even though in view of section 3(2)(a) of the said Ordinance, all the School Boards and Committees have been dissolved and the power is now vested in Local Authority to constitute Boards, by virtue of incorporation by reference, provisions of Bombay Primary Education Act, even though repealed, would continue to operate in view of the said sub-
clause (b) to sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Ordinance and, therefore, would be saved, even though the principal Act has been repealed. In our view, therefore, in spite of what is observed in section 3(2)(a) of the said Ordinance, the said School Boards and Committees would continue to operate till the Act is passed by the legislature.
::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 ::: 32/32(WP 5987.13 with six other Writ Petitions)
28. We are informed that the Ordinance has already been placed before the legislative authority and, therefore, Assembly may deliberate on the said Ordinance and take a decision after due deliberation. We are, therefore, not inclined to grant stay to the Ordinance except clarifying the legal position as mentioned by us hereinabove.
29. Writ Petitions are partly allowed in the aforesaid terms.
Rule is made absolute accordingly.
30. At this stage, the learned Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the State applies for stay of the order passed by this Court for a period of two weeks. Application for stay is opposed by the Counsel for Petitioners. Since we have already taken a view as expressed by us in the order, we are not inclined to stay the operation of this order.
31. Writ Petitions are accordingly disposed of.
(K.R. SHRIRAM, J.) (V.M. KANADE, J.) BDPANDIT PS ::: Downloaded on - 27/08/2013 21:08:34 :::