Delhi High Court allows sale of books in CBSE schools

If the sale of books and uniforms at school shops is treated as "commercialisation", then there is no reason as to why the sale of food in the canteen be not treated as the same, the Delhi High Court said on Monday. The court refused to put a curb on the sale of stationery, uniforms and books at school shops affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

However, it allowed the sale of both NCERT and non-NCERT books stating that "it is discriminatory on the face of it as it cannot be denied that all these items, including uniform, are essential requirements of the students.

It quashed the circular issued by the CBSE on April 19, 2017, which had directed the schools affiliated under it to not indulge in any commercial activity by way of selling books, stationery, uniforms and school bags within the school premises and to adhere to the provisions of Affiliation Bye-laws of the board.

The schools were further directed to desist from the unhealthy practice of coercing the parents to purchase books/uniform etc. from within the school premises or from selected vendors only.

Justice Rekha Palli in the order said,"If the sale of books and uniform in the school shops without any coercion on the students/parents to buy the same from these shops, is treated as "commercialisation", there is no reason as to why even the sale of food items in canteen facilities would also not be treated as commercialisation," the court said.

The court's judgment came while hearing two pleas, one filed by the Association of School Vendors challenging the circular issued by the CBSE of putting curbs on sale of items in school, and the second was filed by the Parents-Students Welfare Association challenging CBSE circular of where the board had allowed the schools to open a 'tuck shop' where besides the sale of NCERT books, stationery and other materials, as required by the students, could also be sold.

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It quashed the circular issued by the CBSE on April 19, 2017, which had directed the schools affiliated under it to not indulge in any commercial activity by way of selling books, stationery, uniforms and school bags within the school premises and to adhere to the provisions of Affiliation Bye-laws of the board.