The Patna High Court has directed the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board to reconsider the recognition application of a Sanskrit school, which had remained pending since 2014, and complete the entire exercise within three months in accordance with the prescribed rules.

A Single Judge Bench of Justice Harish Kumar was hearing writ petitions filed by teaching and non-teaching employees of Jhotan Anant Sanskrit High School seeking directions for grant of recognition to the school situated at Village Navanagar, P.O. Khojpur, Sub-Division Babubarhi, District Madhubani.

The petitioners submitted that the school had applied for recognition in 2014 by submitting an application along with all requisite documents before the District Education Officer, Madhubani. The application was thereafter forwarded to the Secretary of the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board for necessary action.

It was further submitted that the Special Director, Secondary Education, Government of Bihar, through Letter No. 349 dated 01.04.2016, had directed the Secretary of the Board to take necessary steps for grant of recognition in accordance with the applicable rules.

The petitioners contended that despite a report submitted by the District Programme Officer, Elementary Education-cum-Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Madhubani, expressing that the school fulfilled the required criteria, recognition had not been granted till date.

The petitioners relied upon the Bihar Non-Government Sanskrit Schools (Conditions for Recognition) Rules, 1993, particularly Rule 5, which prescribes the procedure for grant of recognition. They submitted that the authorities had failed to take a decision despite compliance with the necessary requirements.

The Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board, however, submitted that under Rule 5 of the Rules, 1993, a report from the concerned District Magistrate was mandatory for consideration of an application for recognition. It was contended that the report relied upon by the petitioners was submitted by the District Programme Officer to the District Education Officer and could not be treated as the statutory report required under the Rules.

After considering the submissions, the High Court noted that the procedure prescribed under Rule 5 requires consideration of an application for recognition on the basis of a report and recommendation of the concerned District Magistrate.

The Court accordingly directed the petitioners to submit a fresh application along with all requisite documents before the Secretary of the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board within four weeks.

The Court further directed that, upon receipt of such application, the Secretary shall call for a report from the District Magistrate, Madhubani in accordance with the Rules, 1993. After receipt of the report, the competent authority shall consider the school's claim and pass an appropriate order in accordance with law.

The entire exercise was directed to be completed expeditiously, preferably within three months from the date of receipt of the fresh application.

Case Title: Priyanka Kumari and Ors v. State of Bihar and Ors.

Case Number: Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 592 of 2026

Appearance:

(In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 592 of 2026)

For the Petitioner/s: Mr. Brajesh Verma, Advocate

For the State: Mr. Raghwanand, GA-11

For the BSSB: Mr. Shashank Shekhar Jha, Advocate

(In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 735 of 2026)

For the Petitioner/s: Mr. Brajesh Verma, Advocate

For the State: Mr. Prashant Pratap, GP-2; Mr. Asit Kumar Jha, AC to GP-2

For the BSSB: Mr. Shashank Shekhar Jha, Advocate

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