Kolkata High Court dismisses PIL challenging the autonomy of Christian missionary schools in West Bengal, ensuring their independent functioning.
West Bengal Christian Schools Get Relief as High Court Rejects PIL, The Christian missionary schools of West Bengal received a significant relief after the Kolkata High Court rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to challenge their autonomy and administrative rights. The petition had questioned the schools’ management policies, including their right to frame their own rules for admissions, staff appointments, and internal governance.
The High Court bench ruled in favor of the institutions, citing the constitutional protection granted to minority educational institutions under Article 30 of the Indian Constitution. The court emphasized that Christian missionary schools, like other minority institutions, have the right to administer and manage their affairs without external interference, as long as they comply with state and national education policies.
The decision was welcomed by Christian school authorities, educational experts, and community leaders, who argued that such institutions have been providing quality education for decades while upholding their distinct identity. Many believe that attempts to regulate or interfere with their management could have negatively impacted their operations and the educational standards they maintain.
The dismissal of the PIL reaffirms the legal rights of minority institutions and sets a precedent for future challenges to the autonomy of religious and private educational institutions in India.
