Holding

The college remained a recognised institution for the 1994-95 and 1995-96 sessions until the NCTE Act came into force on 17 August 2005, so the students were entitled to appear for the examinations, and the Board must permit them to do so.

Summary

The appellants, Sunil Kumar Parimal and Shiv Shankar Roy, enrolled in C.P.Ed and D.P.Ed courses at Tirhut Physical Education College for the 1994-95 and 1995-96 sessions, a college that was duly recognised at the time. The Bihar School Examination Board, tasked with conducting the examinations, failed to hold the exams despite repeated directives from the Department of Art, Culture and Youth Affairs and requests from the college principal. After the Board conducted exams for another college in 2002, it excluded the appellants, prompting them to file a writ of mandamus. The High Court dismissed the petition, holding that the college had been de‑recognised under the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993, and therefore the Board could not permit the students to sit the exams. The Supreme Court held that the college lost its recognition only on 17 August 2005, when the NCTE Act came into force, and that the Act is prospective; consequently, the students were entitled to appear for the pending examinations. Exercising its power under Article 142, the Court directed the Board to allow the appellants to take the exams at the next opportunity and to declare their results. The appeal was allowed, setting aside the High Court’s order.

Issues considered

Whether the de‑recognition of Tirhut Physical Education College under the NCTE Act, 1993 applies retrospectively to students who completed their courses before the Act’s commencement.
Whether the Bihar School Examination Board can be compelled to conduct examinations for students of a college later de‑recognised.
Whether a writ of mandamus is an appropriate remedy in the circumstances.
Whether the Supreme Court may exercise jurisdiction under Article 142 to grant the relief sought.

Legislation cited

Constitution of Indias. Article 142
National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993s. 16

Subjects

EducationExaminationRecognitionNCTE ActWrit of MandamusArticle 142Student rightsAdministrative lawBihar School Examination Board

Judgment

A SUNIL KUMAR PARIMAL ANO ANR.
v.
THE STATE OF BIHAR AND ORS.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2007

B IH.K.SEMAANDLOKESHWARSINGHPANTA,JJ.)

Education/Educational Institutions: Examination for sessions 1994-95
and 1995-96-Not held inspite of instructions of State authorities to Board-
C Writ petition by students-Dismissed on the ground that respondent-College
had been de-recognised-On appeal, held: Respondent-College lost its
recognition only w.ef 17.08.2005 when the NCTE Act came into force and
before that date, it was duly recognised institution-Palpable injustice done
to the students due to inefficiency of Board-Case fit for exercising jurisdiction
under Article 142 of Constitution-Authorities directed to permit aggrieved
D students to appear in examination-National Council of Teacher Education
Act, 1993-Constitution of India, 1950-Article 142.

The appellants had taken admission in C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses for
the sessions 1994-95 and 1995-96 in the recognised respondent-College. The
examinations for the said courses were to be held by the respondent-Board.
E The respondent-Board has not taken any steps to hold the examinations for
these sessions. On 18.12.1999, the Department of Art, Culture and Youth
Affairs, Government of Bihar, forwarded a list of the eligible students who
were to appear in the examination of C.P. Ed and D.P. Ed. courses from different
Colleges in the State of Bihar for. the academic sessions 1994-95 and 1995-
F 96 to the respondent-Board.

On 26.06.2001, the respondent-Board wrote a letter to the Deputy
Secretary (Art, Culture & Youth Affairs Department), Government of Bihar,
in which it was stated that the list of the candidates of two colleges, namely,
respondent-College and another college had been received but the list of
G candidates of remaining three colleges was not received which was requested
to be sent so that steps to hold the examination collectively could be taken.

In reply to the above-said letter, the Deputy Secretary by letter dated
5.10.2002 requested the Examination Committee of the respondent-Board to
conduct the examination for 'ltudents of C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. course of the
H 890
SUNIL KUMAR PARIMAL v. STATE 891
respondent-College along with the examination proposed to be held for the A
students of Government Health and Physical Training College. The Principal
of the respondent-College on 8.10.2002 also wrote a letter to the Secretary
of the respondent-Board bringing to his notice the sad and miserable plight
of the appellants and requested respondent-Board to conduct the examination
of those students along with the examination likely to be conducted for the B
Government Health and Physical Education College. The respondent-Board
in November, 2002 conducted the examinations for C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses
.for the students of Government Health and Physical Education College, but it
refused to admit the appellants and other students to take the examinations.

The appellants filled writ petition seeking writ of mandamus to allow C
them to appear in the examination. Single Judge dismissed the writ petition
of the appellants primarily on the ground that on and with effect from the day
of enforcement of the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993, the
respondent-College was de-recognised and as a result thereof the respondent-
Board is not competent to allow the students to appear in the examination,
who is pursuing or has pursued the course in a non-recognised institution. D
Division Bench of the High Court dismissed the appeal. Hence the present
appeal

Allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD : 1. Despite clear and categorical instructions and repeated E
suggestions by the Deputy Secretary (Art, Culture and Youth Affairs
Department), Government of Bihar, by letter dated 5.10.2002 and also by the
Secretary of the concerned Department in terms of Memo No.1172, the
respondent-Board has failed to discharge its function and responsibility of
holding the examination entrusted to it by the State Government, which has F
resulted in irreparable loss to the appellants. The respondent-Board has not
given any plausible and tenable explanation for debarring the appellants from
taking examination with the students ofC.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses of the
Government Health and Physical Training College.
(Para 201 (899-B, CJ
G
2. In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, it is a fit case to
exercise jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution of India to do
_.. . _ complete justice to the appellants to whom palpable injustice is shown to have
been done because of the sheer fault and inefficiency of the respondent-Board,
who, despite repeated requests of the State authorities, did not t~ke steps to
admit the appellants to appear in the examination till the respondent-College H
892 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 9 S.C.R.

A was de-recognised in terms of the provisions of the NCTE Act. It is again
unfortunate that in spite of fighting a long legal battle for vindicating their
genuine and legitimate claims, the appellants could not get any justice even
from the court of law. Thus, the order of the Single Judge as affirmed by the
Division Bench of the High Court holding that the respondent-College has
since been de-recognised after the enforcement of the NCTE Act, therefore,
B the appellants could not be granted the permission to take examination of the
C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses from the unrecognized institution, is erroneous
and untenable. The NCTE Act came into force with effect from 17.08.2005
and its provisions will be applicable prospectively to those students who have
undertaken examination after 17.08.2005 from recognised institution. The
C respondent-College has lost its recognition only with effect from 17.08.2005
when the NCTE Act was enforced and before that date, the respondent-College
was duly recognised institution by the State Government. Therefore, the
finding and reasoning of the High Court holding the appellants not eligible
to appear in the examination of C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses from the
respondent-College are not based on proper appreciation of facts of the case
D and principles of law. (Para 211 (899-D-G; 900-AI

3. Respondent Nos. 1 to 6 to permit the appellants to appear in the .1-..

examination for the courses of C.P. Ed: and D.P. Ed. for the sessions 1994-95
and 1995-96 to be conducted by the respondent-Board on the next available
E opportunity in t~e near future and thereafter the result of the appellants shall
be declared without loss of further time. [Para 221 [900-A, Bl

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 4190 of2007.

From the Judgment and Order dated 24.1.2007 of the High Court of
F Judicature at Patna in L.P.A. No. 697 of 2006.

Dr. Rajeev Dhawan, T.V. George and Lokesh Kr. Gunjan for the
Appellants.

Gopal Singh, Anukul Raj, Rituraj Biswas, M.P. Jha, Ram Ekbal Roy,
G · Harshvardhan Jha and Gaurav Agrawal for the Respondents.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

LOKESHWAR SINGH PANT A, J. I. Special leave granted.

2. This appeal, by special leave, has been preferred by the appellants
H
SUNIL KUMAR PARIMAL v. STATE [LOKESHWAR SINGH PANTA, J.] 893

against the judgment and order dated 24.01.2007 of a Division Bench of the A
High Court of Judicature at Patna by which L.P.A. No. 697/2006 filed by the
appellants was dismissed and thereby the order of the learned Single Judge
dated 12.09.2006 dismissing the C.W.J.C. No. 8091/2006 of the appellants came
to be affirmed.

3. The facts in brief giving rise to the filing of this appeal are as follows:- B
Tirhut Physical Education College, Muzaffarpur- respondent No. 7
(hereinafter referred to as "respondent- College") was established in the year
1938. The State of Bihar -respondent No. l (for short "respondent-State") by
Notification No. 25 dated 6.11.1993 granted permission to the respondent- C
College to enroll one hundred students in C.P. Ed. and one hundred students
in D.P. Ed. Courses for the Sessions I 993-94 to I 995-96.

4. Sunil Kumar Parimal - appellant No. 1 herein claims to be a first class
post-graduate in Geography from Mithila University. He was enrolled in the
respondent-College in C.P. Ed. Course for the academic session I 993-94. He D
completed his C.P. Ed course in March, 1995. His name was sent by the
respondent-College for appearing in the examination to be conducted by the
Bihar School Examination Board, Bihar, Patna-respondent No. 4 (hereinafter
referred to as the "respondent-Board").

5. Shiv Shankar Roy-appellant No. 2 is a Graduate in Commerce from E
Mithila University. He took admission to the D.P. Ed. course for the academic
session 1995-96. He completed his course in March, 1996. The name of
appellant No. 2 was also sent by the respondent-College to the respondent-
Board for taking the examination. However, no examination was conducted by
the respondent-Board who is entrusted the responsibility of holding the.
examination for the said courses by the respondent-State. F
6. The appe:tants and other similarly placed candidates along with the
Principal of the respondent-College, made several representations requesting
the respondent-authorities to take the examinations of C.P. Ed and D.P. Ed.
courses for the academic sessions 1994-95 and 1995-96. It appears that on G
26.11.1998, the Deputy Secretary (Art, Culture and Youth Department),
Government of Bihar, wrote a letter to the Secretary of respondent-Board,
directing the latter to conduct the postponed examination of the students of
C.P. Ed and D.P. Ed for the academic sessions 1994-95 and 1995-96. It is the
case of the appellants that on 18.12.1999, the Department of Art, Culture and
H
894 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 9 S.C.R.

A Youth Affairs, Government of Bihar forwarded the list of the students to the
respondentcBoard who had to appear in the examination of C.P. Ed and D.P.
Ed from respondent-College for the sessions 1994-95 and 1995-96. On 26.06.200 I,
the respondent-Board wrote a letter to the Deputy Secretary (Art, Culture &
Youth Affairs Department), Government of Bihar, in which it was stated that
the list of the candidates of two colleges, namely, respondent-College and Urs
B Line Women Physical Education College, Lohardugga, had been received but
the list of candidates of remaining three colleges was not received which was
requested to be sent so that steps to hold the examination collectively could
be taken. After it was learnt that the respondent-Board was contemplating to
hold the examination for the said courses in the month of November, 2002,
C the students made representation to the respondent-State and a copy thereof
was forwarded to the respondent-Board requesting the authorities to allow
them to appear in the examination likely to be conducted in November, 2002.

7. It appears that on 5.10.2002 the Deputy Secretary (Art Culture and
Youths Department) wrote one more letter to the respondent-Board asking the
D Examination Committee of the Board to conduct the examination of students
of C.P. Ed and D.P. Ed courses who were enrolled by the respondent-College
for sessions 1994-95 and 1995-96 along with examination of students of
Government Health and Physical Training College, Bihar, Rajendra Nagar,
Patna. Again on 8.10.2002, the Principal of the respondent-College wrote a
E letter to the Secretary of the respondent-Board bringing to his notice the sad
and miserable plights of the students of C.P. Ed and D.P. Ed. courses who
·were to appear in the examination for the academic sessions 1994-95 and 1995-
96. He also requested the Secretary to permit those students to appear in the
exa.mination with the students of Government Health and Physical Education
College, Rajendra Nagar, Patna. It appears from the record that in November,
F 2002 the respondent-Board had conducted examinations for C.P. Ed and D.P.
Ed courses for the students of Government Health and Physical Education
College, Rajendra Nagar, Patna, but it did not allow the students of the
respondent-College to take the examination. In the year 2006, when the
appellants again came to know that the respondent-Board was contemplating
to conduct examination of C.P. Ed and D.P. Ed courses for the students of
G Government Health and Physical Education College, Rajendra Nagar, Patna,
and also fonner students of Koshi Physical Education College, Madepura,
they immediately approached the Principal of.the respondent-College, who
infonned them that the candidates of their institution were debarred by the
respondent-Board from taking the examinations.
H
SUNIL KUMAR PARIMAL v. STATE [LOKESHWAR SINGH PANTA, J.) 895

8. The appellants left with no other alternative remedy but to approach A
the High Court on 17.8.2006 by means ofC.W.J.C. No. 8091/2006 seeking a
writ of mandamus against the State of Bihar-respondent No. I, Joint Secretary
(Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Department), Government of Bihar- respondent
No. 2, Director (Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Department), Government of
Bihar-respondent No. 3, Bihar School Examination Board-respondent No. 4,
Chairman, Bihar School Examination Board-respondent No. 5, Secretary, Bihar B
School Examination Board-respondent No. 6 and Vice Principal, Tirhut Physical
Education College-respondent No. 7, to allow them to appear in the examination
and thereafter publish their result. The appellants filed IA No. 3323/2006
praying for an interim direction to the respondent-State to consider their
applications for the posts of Physical Training Teachers during ensuing C
recruitment. The learned Single Judge on 19.8.2006 directed the respondent-
State to consider the said request of the appellants.

9. On 12.09.2006, learned Single Judge dismissed the writ petition of the
appellants primarily on the ground that on and with effect from the day of
enforcement of the National Council for Teacher Education Act,. 1993, the D ·
respondent-College was de-recognised and as a result thereof the respondent-
Board is not competent to allow the students to appear in the examination,
who is pursuing or has pursued the course in a non-recognised institution.

I 0. Being aggrieved by the order of the learned Single Judge, the
appellants preferred Letters Patent Appeal No. 697/2006 before the Division E
Bench of the High Court. The Division Bench, as stated above, dismissed the
LPA on 24.01.2007. Hence, the appellants are before this Court by way of this
appeal.

11. This Court on 26.02.2007 ordered issue of notice to the respondents F
made returnable within two weeks. In response to the notice, Shri Janardhan
Prasad Singh, Deputy Director (Youth Affairs) Department of Art, Culture and
Youth Affairs, Government of Bihar-respondent No. 4 has filed counter affidavit
in which it is fairly admitted that the National Council for Teacher Education .
Act, 1993 (hereinafter referred to as the "NCTE Act") will not be applicable
to the students who had completed their courses before the enforcement of G
the Act, and the provisions of clause B of Section 16 of the NCTE Act will
not apply with regard to examination of those candidates who have completed
their courses from a recognized institution before the commencement of the
Act. It is next submitted that for the purpose of conducting the timely
examination for the courses of C.P. Ed and D.P. Ed, the list of students of the · H
896 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 9 S.C.R.

A respondent - College for the sessions of 1994-95 and 1995-96 was sent to the
Secretary of respondent-Board vide letter No. 386 dated 18.12.1999 followed
by reminder letter no. 646 dated 05.10.2002 with clear instructions to conduct
the said examination. It is also stated that vide letter No. 137 dated 24.I0.2002
the Secretary to the respondent-Board informed the Department that as the
said list of the candidates was not verified, therefore, the examination could
B not be conducted without proper verified list. The Deputy Director in the
counter affidavit has categorically stated that the Department of Art, Culture
and Youth Affairs is not the verifying authority. The deponent stated that the
recognitions of all Physical Training Colleges have been cancelled with
retrospective effect vide Department's order dated 13.04.2004.
c 12. Shri Raghavendra Nath Tiwary, Law Officer in the respondent-Board
·has filed joint counter affidavit on behalf of the Chairman and the Secretary
of the respondent-Board. The stand projected in the counter is that vide
Memo No. 382 dated 13.4.2004, the Department of Art, Culture and Youth
Welfare of the respondent-State has cancelled the recognition of the
D respondent-College and the respondent-Board will conduct department
examinations including diploma in Physical Education/Certificate in Physical
L
Education in terms of Rule 7 of the Bihar School Examination Board Rules,
1963 on such terms and conditions, as may be laid down by the State
Government. The respondent-Board has stated that the appellants could not
E be permitted to take examination in the year 2004 because by that time the
recognition of the respondent-College was cancelled.

13. It appears from the record that on 23.07.2007, this Court passed the
following order:

"After hearing learned counsel for the parties, it is seen that by a
F letter dated 05. I 0.2002 addressed to the Secretary, Bihar School
Examination Committee, Patna, the State Government has requested
that the examination of neglected students ofC.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. of
Tirhut Physical Training College, Muzaffarpur belonging to the
Sessions I 994-94 to I 995-96 be conducted with Government Health
G and Physical Training College, Bihar, Rajendra Nagar, Panta.

Mr. M.P. Jha, learned counsel appearing for the Board, shall receive
a definite instruction as to what action has been taken pursuant to
the aforesaid letter. He shall also receive a definite instruction as to
any impediment in holding the examination in respect of the petitioners,
H namely, Sunil Kumar Parimal and Shiv Shankar Roy.
SUNIL KUMAR PARIMAL v. STA TE [LOKESHWAR SINGH PANTA, J.] 897

14. In pursuance to the above said order, respondent Nos. 4 to 6 have A
lo
filed joint additional affidavit stating therein that the Chainnan of the
respondent-Board wrote a letter No. K- I 37 dated 24. I 0.2002 to the Secretary
to respondent-State requesting him to send the verified list of students but
till date, no verified list of students was sent by the Department and as such,
the students of the respondent-College could not appear in the examination
held by the respondent-Board. It is also stated that the respondent-Board B
before holding the examination in the year 2006, has also requested the
Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Government of Bihar, to send the
details of eligible colleges, but till date, no such details of the eligible colleges
have been sent by the Department.

15. The appellants in the rejoinder affidavit filed to the additional affidavit
c
of respondent Nos. 4 to 6, have stated that the contents of the additional
affidavit filed by the respondent Nos. 4 to 6 are misleading and contrary to
the stand of the respondent-State. They stated that in spite of repeated
requests of the concerned Department of the respondent-State, the respondent-
Board has miserably failed to discharge its function, as a result thereof, the D
appellants have suffered for no fault on their part.
~

16. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the
material on record.

17. In the backdrop of the pleadings of the parties and documents E
appearing on record, the undisputed facts emerging therefrom are that both
the appellants took their admission in C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses for the
sessions 1994-95 and I 995-96 in the recognised respondent-College. The
examinations for the said courses were to be held by the respondent-Board.
The respondent-Board has not taken any steps to discharge its obligation
and responsibility of holding the examinations for the sessions 1994-95 and
F
1995-96. On 18.12.1999, the Department of Art, Culture and Youth Affairs,
Government of Bihar, forwarded a list of the eligible students who were to
appear in the examination of C.P. Ed and D.P. Ed. courses from different
Colleges in the State ofBihar for the academic sessions 1994-95 and 1995-96
to the respondent-Board. The Secretary to the respondent-Board on 26.06.200 I G
" wrote a letter to the Deputy Secretary, Department of Art, Culture and Youth
Affairs, which reads as under:-
.......
"You have made the recommendation to hold the examination of five
colleges, out of the above, list of the candidates of two colleges,
H
~--
'

898 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 9 S.C.R.

A namely:
.J.
1. Tirhut College of Physical Education, Muzaffarpur

2. Urs Line Women Physical Education College, Lohardugga.

List of the remaining three colleges has not been sent as yet.
B
Thus, it is again requested as per the directions that send the list o(
the candidates of remaining three colleges be sent so that steps to
hold the examination collectively could be taken."
~-

18. In reply to the above-said letter, the Deputy Secretary (Art, Culture
c and Youth Affairs Department), Government of Bihar, vide letter No. l 9/l 2/98-
Youth dated 5.10.2002 requested the Examination Committee of the respondent-
Board to conduct the examination for students ofC.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. course
of the respondent-College along with the examination proposed to be held for
the students of Government Health and Physical Training College, Bihar,
Rajendra Nagar, Patna. The Principal of the respondent-College on 8.10.2002
D also wrote a letter to the Secretary of the respondent-Board bringing to his
notice the sad and miserable plight of the appellants and other students of
the C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses for academic sessions 1994-95 and 1995-96
and requested the Examination Committee of the respondent-Board to conduct
the examination of those students along with the examination likely to be
E conducted for the Government Health and Physical Education College, Rajendra
Nagar, Patna. The respondent-Board in November, 2002 conducted the
examinations for.C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses for the students of Government
Health and Physical Education College, Rajendra Nagar, Patna, but it refused
to admit the appellants and other students to take the examinations.

F 19. It appears from the record that Memo No. l l 72 dated 31.10.2006 was .,
sent by Shri Rama Shankar Tiwari, Secretary (Art, Culture and Youth Affairs
Department) to the Government of Bihar, to the Secretary, Bihar School
Examination Board, which reads as under:-

"With reference to your aforesaid subject letter NO. 411 dated
G 26.06.2001, it is to say that the list of sent-up students of C.P. Ed. and
D.P.Ed. coruse of Tirhut Physical Training College, Muzaffar for the
; "
session 1994-95 to 1995-96 was sent for conducting examination vide i
departmental Ietter-386 dated 18.12.2001 of whose examination has not
been conducted till date. ·--
H
SUNIL KUMAR PARIMAL v. STATE [LOKESHWAR SINGH PANTA, J.] 899

Therefore, it is requested that the examination of sent-up students of A
C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. course of Tirhut Physical Training College,
Muzaffar for the session 1994-95 to 1995-96 be conducted along with
State Health and Physical Training College, Rajendra Nagar, Bihar,
Patna."

20. Despite clear and categorical instructions and repeated suggestions B
by the Deputy Secretary (Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Department),
Government of Bihar, vide letter No.19/12/98-Youth dated 5.10.2002 and also
by the Secretary of the concerned Department in terms of Memo No.1172
extracted hereinabove, the respondent-Board has failed to discharge its
function and responsibility of holding the examination entrusted to it by the C
State Government, which has resulted in irreparable loss to the appellants.
The respondent-Board has not given any plausible and tenable explanation
for debarring the appellants from taking examination with the students ofC.P.
Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses of the Government Health and Physical Training
College, Bihar, Rajendra Nagar, Patna.
D
21. In the above-noted peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, we
are of the opinion that it is a fit case where we should not hesitate to exercise
our jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution of India to do complete
justice to the appellants to whom palpable injustice is shown to have been·
done _because of the sheer fault and inefficiency of the respondent-Board,
who, despite repeated requests of the State authorities, did not take steps to E
admit the appellants to appear in the examination till the respondent-College
was de-recognised in terms of the provisions of the NCTE Act. It is again
unfortunate that in spite of fighting a long legal battle for vindicating their
genuine and legitimate claims, the appellants could not get any justice even
from the court of law. Thus, in our considered view, the order of the learned F
Single Judge as affirmed by the Division Bench of the High Court holding that
the respondent-College has since been de-recognised after the enforcement
of the NCTE Act, therefore, the appellants could not be granted the permission
to take examination of the C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. courses from the unrecognized
institution, is erroneous and untenable. The NCTE Act came into force with
effect from 17.08.2005 and its provisions will be applicable prospectively to G
those students who have undertaken examination after 17.08.2005 from
recognised institution. The respondent-College has lost its recognition only
with effect from 17.08.2005 when the NCTE Act was enforced and before that
date, the respondent-College was duly recognised institution by the State
Government. Therefore, the finding and reasoning of the High Court holding H
900 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007] 9 S.C.R.

A the appellants not eligible to appear in the examination of C.P. Ed. and D.P.
j
Ed. courses from the respondent-College are not based on proper appreciation
of facts of the case and principles of law.

22. We, in the interest of justice to the appellants, direct respondent
Nos. l to 6 to permit the appellants to appear in the examination for the
B courses of C.P. Ed. and D.P. Ed. for the sessions 1994-95 and 1995-96 to be
conducted by the respondent-Board on the next available opportunity in the
near future and thereafter the result of the appellants shall be declared
without loss of further time.

23. For the reasons afore-stated, the impugned judgment and order
C dated 24.01.2007 of the Division Bench of the High Court in LPA No. 697/2006
upholding the judgment and order dated 12.09.2006 of the learned Single
Judge passed in C.W.J.C. No. 8091/2006 is not justified and cannot be sustained
in law. It is, accordingly, set aside. The appeal is allowed accordingly. The
C.W.J.C. No. 8091/2006 filed by the appellants in the High Court of Judicature
D at Patna shall stand allowed. However, the parties are left to bear their own
costs.

24. We make it clear that the observations made by us are only prima
facie and tentative observations for the disposal of this appeal and the same
would not be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of any
E future proceedings of any nature, if any, between the parties in this appeal.

D.G. Appeal allowed.

-I

j
/

'