The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Union Education Secretary T. K. Anil Kumar on a contempt petition alleging non-compliance with an earlier court direction. A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu sought his response within four weeks.

The petition, filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, alleges that the Education Secretary failed to act on a representation seeking the regulation and monitoring of institutions providing secular education or religious instruction to children under the age of 14.

The case follows a May 11 Supreme Court order directing Upadhyay to submit his representation to the Union government. The representation sought measures to register, recognise, supervise and monitor such institutions, particularly those operating outside the formal school system.

During the hearing, the bench clarified that the Secretary need not appear in person. It also said the contempt proceedings would be limited to determining whether the earlier order had been complied with and would not examine broader constitutional questions.

The original petition invokes provisions including Article 21A, which guarantees the right to education, as well as Articles 39(f), 45 and 51A(k). Upadhyay has also challenged the interpretation of Article 30 and raised concerns about unregistered institutions, particularly in the border areas of Uttar Pradesh.

The Supreme Court will consider the matter again after four weeks, based on the Education Secretary’s response.

Inputs from India Today

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