The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Judge sees need to expand scope of right to education

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 25, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Judge sees need to expand scope of right to education

Special Correspondent

Right to education should cover higher education, says B.N. Srikrishna

FIRST COPY: Supreme Court judge B.N. Srikrishna (second from left) releasing the first issue of the Bangalore Law Journal at the inauguration of a seminar on `Right to Education as a Fundamental Right,' in Bangalore on Saturday by handing over a copy to Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor M.S. Thimmappa in the presence of Karnataka High Court judge N.K. Patil (center), Indian Law Institute Director K.N. Chandrashekaran Pillai and Gulbarga University Vice-Chancellor V.B. Coutinho (right). 1; Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Supreme Court judge B.N. Srikrishna has said there is a need to expand the scope of the fundamental right to education from basic education to secondary or higher education.

The judge, who inaugurated a seminar organised by Bangalore University Law College on "Right to Education as a Fundamental Right," said the Supreme Court declared education as a fundamental right under Article 21 (a) of the Constitution to ensure education for all.

Not educating children is as good as killing them, he said and added that education liberates people from ignorance and prejudices. Mr. Srikrishna released the Bangalore Law Journal brought out by the college.

Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor M.S. Thimmappa said only 10 per cent of students who complete elementary education go in for higher education in the country compared to 60 per cent in the U.S. The introduction of the mid-day meal scheme by the Government has helped in marginally reducing the dropout rate, he said.

Gulbarga University Vice-Chancellor V.B. Coutinho said a large number of children are still non-literate in north Karnataka. The Government should make efforts to mobilise more funds for providing basic facilities in schools and colleges. More schools and colleges should be sanctioned in backward districts to ensure education for rural students, he said.

Karnataka High Court judge N.K. Patil said social and economic inequalities exist because of illiteracy and ignorance. Even after spending crores of rupees on education, many government schools do not have blackboards and toilets.

The Director of India Law Institute, New Delhi, K.N. Chandrashekaran Pillai, said absenteeism among teachers is very high in some States.

University Law College Principal K.M. Hanumantharayappa welcomed the gathering.

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