Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Issues Notice Over Education Secretary’s Alleged Non-Compliance
The Supreme Court is examining a complaint about education centres for children younger than 14.
Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay says the Education Secretary did not follow an earlier court instruction.
He wanted the government to decide on his request about registering and monitoring these institutions.
His request includes places that provide secular education or religious instruction.
He alleges that some unregistered centres may influence children in harmful ways.
He also says this could create concerns about security and national unity.
These are the petitioner’s allegations, and the court has not decided whether they are true.
The court asked the Education Secretary to respond but said he does not need to appear personally for now.
The case will be heard again after four weeks.
The Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to Union Education Secretary T.K. Anil Kumar over alleged non-compliance with an earlier direction.
Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay alleged that the Education Ministry failed to decide on his representation within the stipulated period.
The representation seeks registration, recognition, supervision, regulation, and monitoring of institutions educating children below 14.
Upadhyay alleged that unregistered institutions could expose children to radicalisation and affect internal security and national integration.
The court waived the secretary’s personal appearance and listed the matter for hearing after four weeks.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, Union Education Secretary T.K. Anil Kumar, and petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
- What
- The court issued a contempt notice over alleged failure to comply with an earlier direction to decide a representation concerning regulation of institutions educating children below 14.
- When
- The notice was issued on Tuesday; the case is to be listed after four weeks. The earlier direction arose from a May 11 order concerning a representation dated February 10, 2026.
- Where
- The proceedings are before the Supreme Court; the petitioner referred to institutions in several bordering districts of Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Upadhyay alleges that the Education Ministry did not decide his representation within the period directed by the court.
Petitioner’s Claims
Position Reported From Government or Court
Institutional registration and monitoring
Petitioner’s Claims
Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeks registration, recognition, supervision, regulation, and monitoring of institutions providing secular education or religious instruction to children below 14.
Position Reported From Government or Court
The articles do not report a substantive response from the Education Secretary or the Union government on this request.
Alleged risks to children and security
Petitioner’s Claims
Upadhyay alleges that unregistered institutions may radicalise or brainwash children and could affect internal security, fraternity, unity, and national integration.
Position Reported From Government or Court
These allegations have not been adjudicated by the Supreme Court in the proceedings described.
Article 30 protections
Petitioner’s Claims
Upadhyay argues that Article 30 does not grant additional protection to religious educational institutions and that religious instruction is covered under Article 26.
Position Reported From Government or Court
The articles do not report the government’s position on this interpretation; the court has not ruled on the claims in the described proceedings.
- Petitioner
- Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay
- Respondent
- Union Education Secretary T.K. Anil Kumar
- Requested action
- Registration, recognition, supervision, regulation, and monitoring of institutions educating children below 14
- Court action
- Contempt notice issued and a response sought
- Personal appearance
- The Supreme Court dispensed with the secretary’s personal appearance
- Next hearing
- After four weeks
- Constitutional issue
- The petition raises questions about the scope of Article 30(1) and protections for institutions providing religious instruction
