Bankim Chandra Roy, J. - (1.) This Rule is directed against the syllabus of History for Class VIII prescribed by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education revising the earlier syllabus on the ground that the same was not prepared in accordance with the mandatory provisions of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education Act and the Rules framed thereunder as well as the said syllabus was contrary to/or repugnant to and inconsistent with the syllabus which was prepared by the National Council of Educational Research and Training. There was an interim order restraining the respondents from giving any effect or further effect to the impugned syllabus annexed as Annexure 'A' to the petition at first for a limited period and subsequently it was extended till the hearing of the application for extension of the interim order.
(2.) The facts of the case, in a short compass, are as follows:- In West Bengal there are two types of schools, namely, schools affiliated to the Central Board of Education, New Delhi and schools recognised by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. The syllabi of these two groups of schools though different are in conformity with the syllabus framed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (hereinafter referred to as NCERT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi, The syllabus of History for Class VIII as prepared by the NCERT are as follows:- That the existing syllabus of History for Class VIII as enumerated by the NCERT are as follows : Unit 1. India and the Modern World. Major Idea : Developments outside India and a great impact on India. Unit 2. The Rise, Growth and the Impact of the British Rule in India. (25 periods) (Upto 1857} Major Ideas : 1. The absence of political unity and the mutual rivalry among the Indian Rulers facilitated the growth of British power in India. 2. The British rule and lasting effect on the economic and social life of the Indian people 3. From its very beginning, the British rule in India met with resistance from-the Indian people. Unit 3. British Policies and Administration in India from 1858 to 1947. (10 periods) Major Ideas: 1. During this period, India came under the direct rule of the British Crown. 2. This period witnessed many changes in the political, economic, and social policies of the British Government in India to facilitate the consolidation of the British rule. Unit 4. Change in Economy and Society (1858 to 1947) (10 periods) Major Idea : The changes in economic and social life helped in unifying the country and played an important part in arousing the national consciousness of the Indian people. Unit. 5. Rule of Indian Nationalism and Struggle for Freedom. (25 periods) Major Ideas : 1. The discontent created by the British in India through their political and economic policies and the emergence of national consciousness among the people led to the emergence of the Indian national movement which expressed the aspiration of the Indian people as a nation. 2. Indian independence was obtained at a cost of great sacrifices made by the Indian people belonging to all communities and all parts of the country. Unit. 6. Freedom and after (Upto 1950) (10 periods) Major Ideas : 1. The partition of the country at the time of Independence created a number of problems. 2. The Indian Constitution aims at the establishment of a just social order.
(3.) The NCERT has appointed high level editorial boards in different school subjects to develop the syllabi and text books. The editorial boards consist of reputed educationists drawn from the school teachers were duly given representation.;