New Delhi: The Supreme Court has reaffirmed constitutional protection for minority educational institutions and imposed a fine of one lakh rupees on a petitioner who challenged the exemption of such institutions from the Right to Education Act. The court described the petition as a misuse of judicial process and refused to reopen a settled legal position.
A bench led by Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan heard the plea filed under Article 32. The judges stated that repeated challenges to final Supreme Court rulings weaken trust in the justice system. They warned that courts exist to resolve genuine disputes, not to revisit decided matters.
The petition came from an organisation named United Voice for Education Forum. The group argued that excluding minority institutions from RTE obligations violated constitutional principles. The bench rejected this claim and referred to its 2014 judgment. That ruling clearly stated that the Right to Education Act does not apply to minority institutions protected under Article 30(1) of the Constitution.
Article 30(1) grants religious and linguistic minorities the right to establish and manage educational institutions of their choice. The court underlined that this protection forms part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Any attempt to dilute it through repeated litigation threatens minority autonomy in education.
The judges also issued a warning to the lawyer associated with the case. They said legal professionals carry responsibility to uphold judicial discipline. Filing reckless petitions invites penalties and wastes court time.
The court ordered the petitioner to pay the fine as a deterrent. The ruling sends a clear message. Constitutional safeguards for minority institutions remain firm. Courts will act against attempts to undermine settled law.
