The Bombay High Court recently reversed a decision that affected two schools in Maharashtra, which were part of a program to teach tribal students. Let's break down what happened in this case.
Two schools, Sulochana Belekar Samajik Va Bahuuddeshiya Shikshan Sanstha and Vishwatmak Jangli Maharaj Ashram Trust, were in a legal battle with the State of Maharashtra. The schools were represented by Mr. V.D. Hon, a senior lawyer, while the state was represented by Mr. A.B. Girase.
The schools were part of a government plan from 2009 aimed at educating tribal students by placing them in recognized CBSE schools. However, in 2025, the Under-Secretary of the Tribal Development Department took away the schools' recognition because student performance dropped.
The schools argued that the decision was unfair and against the rules. They said the government plan did not allow for such a big action based on a temporary drop in performance. The schools had a history of good results until one bad year.
Judges Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten S. Venegavkar found that the decision to take away recognition was made without proper notice or a chance for the schools to defend themselves. This went against basic fairness.
The court canceled the order from September 2025, giving the schools back their recognition. The decision emphasized fairness and the importance of following the right procedures.
The schools can continue their work under the government plan, and the state is expected to follow proper procedures in the future.
This case highlights the importance of fair actions by authorities and the protection of educational opportunities for tribal students in India.
