Lahore High Court Chief Justice Azmat Saeed on Wednesday said in the wake of 18th Amendment in the constitution, free school education is fundamental right of all children up to 16 years of age and the government cannot walk away with the excuse of shortage of funds because the court and the people of the country will not accept it.
The CJ was addressing the secretary education who appeared before the court to explain why no steps had been taken so far for provision of free education to children of 5 to 16 years of age under in article 25-A of constitution of 18th amendment.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Advocate Azhar Siddique against non-implementation of the article 25-A of the constitution which promises free education to children of 5 to 16 years of age.
The sectary education told the CJ that the government was making legislation for provision of free education and free education will be launched for all children at school level. The CJ asked him why was the legislation had not been made immediately after 18th Amendment when the deadline for implementing article 25-A and provision of free education under it was June 2011? The CJ directed the secretary education to submit report the within next 15 days about legislation process whether it has been started and how much time it will take to be done. The court adjourned the hearing of the matter for 15 days.
The petitioner said the article inserted in constitution through 18th amendment guaranteed fundamental right of children to get fee education but the neither federal nor provincial government has taken required steps for doing the needful so far despite the fact that deadline set for its implementation was June 2011 last.
