MUSLIM ANJUMAN E TALEEM Vs. BIHAR UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Most of the legal questions involved in this application are the same as those raised in C. W. J. C. No. 62 of 1966 in which judgment has been delivered today holding that the amendments made by Bihar Act XVI of 1965 and the framing of new statutes in pursuance of the said amendment are valid.

(2.) But in this application a new point has been raised regarding contravention of the fundamental right guaranteed by Article 30(1) of the Constitution. It was urged that the petitioners being members of the Muslim minority community were entitled to the fundamental right guaranteed by Article 30 (1) of the Constitution because admittedly the institute in question was started with the object of "imparting" modern education to Muslim students in A manner that will conserve their distinct language, culture and religion". Necessary papers dealing with the memorandum of association of Muslim Anjuman-e-Taleem, Darbhanga, which is in charge of the educational institution in question have been filed alone with a copy of the proceedings of the meeting of the Organising Committee of the said educational institution held on 29-4-19G2. These allegations have not been controverted by the other side. I must, therefore, hold that the educational institution in question, namely, Millat College, Laheriasarai, was established by Muslims of the place and that they are entitled to administer the same. Bihar Act XVI of 1965 confers full power on the University authorities to lay down the constitution of the governing bodies of educational institutions admitted as colleges and to suspend or dissolve the governing bodies and to appoint ad hoc committees also. Such a power is wholly repugnant to the power of the local Muslims to manage this institution as provided in the said memorandum of association. There is thus a clear conflict between the Act and Article 30 (1) of the Constitution. The true scope of Article 30 (1) of the Constitution has been explained in a recent judgment of the Supreme Court in Rev. Sidhrajbhai Sabbai v. State of Gujarat AIR 1963 SC 540, I may quote paragraph 15 :--

(3.) But it is not necessary in say that Bihar Act XVI of 1965 and the statutes made thereunder are void. It is sufficient to say that the amending Act and the statutes made thereunder do not apply to the institution in question in view of Article 30 (1) of the Constitution. Every law made by the Legislature is subject to the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution and should be so construed its not affecting those rights. This petition is, therefore, allowed to a limited extent and a writ shall issue to members of the opposite party restraining them from interfering with the management of the said institution under the provisions of Bihar Act XVI of 1965 and the statutes made thereunder. This order, however, will not affect the validity of those provisions in the parent Act and in the statutes which are of a purely regulatory nature and which, as pointed out by their Lordships in the aforesaid Supreme Court case are unaffected by Article 30 (1). Those regulations if any made "in the true interests of efficiency of instruction, discipline, health, sanitation, morality, public order and the like" will be valid. There will be no order for costs as there was practically no contest by the other side.