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Structured Summary of the Opinion — Nevaskar, J. (Civil Misc. Cases Nos. 18 & 20 of 1952)

Factual and Procedural Background

Two petitions by medical students of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore — Civil Misc. Case No. 20 of 1952 (Rustam E. Mody and Rajendra P. Bhagi) and Civil Misc. Case No. 18 of 1952 (Sumitra Devi) — were heard together because they raised substantially similar questions. The petitions challenged the requirement that non-resident students (i.e., non-Madhya Bharat students) pay capitation fees while bona fide residents of Madhya Bharat were exempted under newly framed rules. The capitation fees in issue were stated as Rs. 1,300 for nominees from some States (e.g., Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir) and Rs. 1,500 for other non-Madhya Bharat students. Petitioners relied on constitutional guarantees (principally Article 15 and Article 14, and Article 29 was mentioned) and on representations and public announcements (including an All India Radio news item and communications) that capitation fees would be abolished. The State of Madhya Bharat and the College returned that (a) Articles 15 and 29 do not cover discrimination by residence; (b) the fee arrangement continued a prior scheme and allocations to participating States; (c) a radio announcement and other communications were premature; and (d) financial constraints and executive review justified retaining fees. Sumitra Devi additionally claimed she was a bona fide resident of Madhya Bharat and therefore entitled to exemption; the State countered that she had obtained admission as a Rajasthan nominee (after previously failing to secure a Madhya Bharat seat) and had entered into a bond with Rajasthan, which disentitled her from claiming the resident exemption.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the imposition of capitation fees on non-resident students (non-Madhya Bharat students) constitutes discrimination prohibited by Article 15(1) of the Constitution (on grounds including "place of birth") or Article 29(2), or otherwise violates equality guaranteed by Article 14.
  2. Whether classification based on residence (exempting bona fide residents of Madhya Bharat from capitation fees) is constitutionally impermissible arbitrariness or a reasonable classification permissible under Article 14.
  3. In Sumitra Devi's case specifically:
    1. Whether the phrase "bona fide residents of Madhya Bharat" in the rule can be limited by the State to those occupying seats allocated to Madhya Bharat under a prior seat-allocation scheme.
    2. Whether Sumitra Devi's admission as a nominee of the Rajasthan Government and her prior conduct disentitled her from claiming resident exemption.
    3. Whether discriminatory application (if any) of the rule to her would invade her fundamental rights.

Arguments of the Parties

Petitioners (Rustam E. Mody and Rajendra P. Bhagi)

  • They were fourth-year students at the College and non-local (non-Madhya Bharat) students were required to pay capitation fees while Madhya Bharat students were exempted under the new rules.
  • After the Constitution came into force they relied on the fundamental right of equality and contended that discrimination on the ground of residence was not permissible under Article 15 and was void.
  • They relied on the College Calendar statement that admissions would be strictly by merit and without provincial bar or restriction, plus public statements (radio broadcast) and communications suggesting abolition of capitation fees.

Petitioner (Sumitra Devi)

  • She alleged she was a bona fide resident of Madhya Bharat and therefore, under the Government's rule and the College Calendar, entitled to admission without payment of capitation fees.
  • She asserted the demand for fees from non-residents embodied a policy of discrimination between citizens and violated fundamental rights and equality before law.

State of Madhya Bharat and Principal of the College (Respondents)

  • Maintained that Article 15(1) and Article 29(2) did not make discrimination on the ground of residence impermissible; Article 15(1) refers to religion, race, caste, sex, and place of birth (understood as place of birth) and Article 29(2) speaks to religion, race, caste, language.
  • Explained the imposition of capitation fees as continuation of arrangements that existed between participating States and the institution prior to transfer to the State of Madhya Bharat, including seat-allocation schemes for participating units that had contributed to the College.
  • Asserted radio and other announcements were premature and that the executive had reviewed finances and, in view of a deficit budget, decided abolition was not feasible; this executive decision was intra vires.
  • In Sumitra's case, the State further argued she had initially competed for a Madhya Bharat reserved seat and failed, later secured nomination from Rajasthan and had executed a bond with Rajasthan Government to pay fees; thus, by conduct, she had disentitled herself from seeking relief.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
V.G. Row Petitioner v. The State of Madras, AIR 1951 Mad 147 (Full Bench) Explaining the Diceyan concept of "equality before the law": law of the land to be enforced equally without distinction; cited for illuminating the meaning of equality before the law. Used to explain the concept of "equality before law" and to show that the phrase demands equal enforcement of law without arbitrary exemptions in enforcement.
Barbier v. Connolly, (1883) 113 U.S. 27 Illustration from U.S. jurisprudence regarding the 14th Amendment where Field J. expatiated on the Amendment (context: due process and equal protection). Referred to in the discussion of the origins and overlapping meanings of "equal protection" and "due process" to draw comparative illumination for Article 14 interpretation.
Truax v. Corrigan, (1921) 257 U.S. 312 Taft C.J.'s observation that due process and equal protection overlap but have distinct spheres; equal protection aimed at preventing undue favour or hostile discrimination. Cited to show that equal protection prevents singling out persons or classes for discriminatory treatment and requires similar treatment of similarly situated persons.
Yick Wo v. Hopkins, (1885) 118 U.S. 356 Famous formulation that "equal protection of the laws is a protection of equal laws"; prevents persons or classes being singled out by discriminatory legislation. Quoted to reinforce the principle that equal protection requires alike treatment under the law for those similarly situated.
Kathi Kalu Oghadji Ransingh Rawat v. State of Saurashtra (Kathi Raning Rawat), AIR 1952 SC 123 Principle that classification for legislation is permissible; equality is not violated if the classification is not arbitrary and bears a reasonable relation to the object of legislation. Relied on to support the proposition that reasonable classification based on residence may be constitutionally valid and that Legislature has latitude in classification unless palpably arbitrary.
S.B. Trading Co. Ltd. v. Shyamlal Ramchandra, AIR 1951 Cal 539 Classification is inherent in legislation; Article 14 does not forbid all classification; equality means the law applies equally to all who fall within the legislative description. Used to underline that not all discrimination is unconstitutional and that the power to classify must be left wide to law-making authorities; supports a pragmatic application of Article 14.
Commr. of Police, Bombay v. Gordhandas Bhanji, AIR 1952 SC 16 Doctrine that public orders made by public authorities must be construed objectively from language used; subsequent explanations by authority as to intention cannot control objective meaning. Applied to reject the State's attempt to construe the resident-exemption rule by later explanation (i.e., the rule must be read by its wording, not by subsequent clarifications).
Carter v. State of Texas, 177 U.S. 442 Executive action excluding persons of African race from grand jury service violates equal protection; executive acts can be within the scope of equal protection analysis. Invoked to show that executive acts (not only legislative acts) are subject to equal protection scrutiny and may violate equality guarantees if discriminatory.
Home Telegraph Co. v. City of Los Angeles, (1912) 227 U.S. 278 If a state officer, under assertion of state power, does an act that can only be done on the predicate of such power, courts must inquire into constitutionality despite asserted lack of power. Used to support the proposition that executive acts, even when assertedly within state competence, must comply with equal protection principles; the State cannot avoid inquiry by asserting power.
Strauder v. West Virginia, (1880) 100 U.S. 303; Neal v. Delaware, (1881) 103 U.S. 370; Gibson v. Mississippi, (1895) 162 U.S. 565 Examples cited in Carter to illustrate that exclusion of persons from civic functions solely because of race denied equal protection. These authorities were cited within Carter to illustrate equal protection violations by exclusionary executive or administrative acts; the Court used the chain of authorities to show that executive acts can be scrutinized under equality guarantees.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court conducted a textual and contextual analysis of the relevant constitutional provisions and the facts:

  1. Interpretation of Article 15(1) and Article 29(2):
    • The Court held Article 15(1) (which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or "place of birth") was to be read narrowly: "place of birth" refers to the fact of being born at a particular place, not to residence. Thus Article 15(1) does not prohibit distinctions based on residence.
    • Article 29(2) applies specifically to denial of admission to educational institutions maintained by State funds on grounds of religion, race, caste, language or any of them; the Court concluded that neither Article 29(2) nor Article 15(1) applied to the present classification based on residence.
  2. Preliminary factual observations:
    • There was no denial of admission in the cases: the students were admitted and studying.
    • The rule at issue created a classification: bona fide residents of Madhya Bharat would be exempted from capitation fees; non-residents would be required to pay specified fees (with a distinction between nominees and others).
  3. Analysis under Article 14 (equality before the law and equal protection of the laws):
    • The Court surveyed the conceptual distinction between "equality before the law" (Diceyan conception) and "equal protection of the laws" (U.S. 14th Amendment jurisprudence) through authorities from Indian and foreign jurisprudence to frame the correct constitutional test.
    • From Indian precedents (Kathi Raning Rawat, S.B. Trading) and comparative material, the Court identified the governing principle: a statutory or administrative classification will not violate Article 14 if it has a rational relation or nexus to the objective sought to be achieved and is not arbitrary or capricious.
    • The Court accepted that the State is expected to prioritize residents in providing education (Entry 11, State List; Article 162 executive power); a State financing education may reasonably exempt residents from certain fees and charge non-residents, because the financial burden is borne by the State and residents are the primary beneficiaries.
    • Accordingly, the Court concluded that, as a general proposition, classification by residence for the purpose of exempting resident students from capitation fees is not by itself a violation of Article 14; it is a reasonable classification related to the object of providing education funded by the State.
  4. Application to the petitions:
    • For Rustam E. Mody and Rajendra P. Bhagi: they failed to demonstrate that they possessed any fundamental right to exemption from capitation fees. Since no right of exemption existed under the Constitution, no question of its violation arose. The Court therefore dismissed their petition.
    • For Sumitra Devi: the Court examined the specific rule wording ("For all students 'who are bona fide residents' of Madhya Bharat no capitation fees should be charged") and found no textual basis for limiting "bona fide residents" to those occupying allocated seats under the prior seat-allocation scheme. The State's attempt to construe the rule in that limited way was rejected.
    • The Court invoked Commr. of Police, Bombay v. Gordhandas Bhanji to underscore that public orders and rules must be construed objectively from their language and not by subsequent explanations or internal intentions of the framers.
    • Further, the Court held that the State cannot, by executive clarification or by reference to prior allocation arrangements, exclude a person who plainly falls within a classification established by the rule; such an exclusion would be an unjustifiable discrimination violating Article 14.
    • On Sumitra Devi's prior conduct (having earlier applied for admission as a Madhya Bharat candidate and later obtaining admission as a Rajasthan nominee with a bond), the Court found nothing in the conduct that disentitled her to constitutional protection. The Court emphasized that the discrimination (attempted exclusion) affected a fundamental right under Article 14 and therefore conduct did not bar relief.

Holding and Implications

Holding (core rulings):

  • Rustam E. Mody and Rajendra P. Bhagi — Petition dismissed. The Court held they had not shown any constitutional right to be exempted from capitation fees; no violation of Article 15 or Article 29 arose, and the classification based on residence was not shown to be objectionable under Article 14 in their circumstances.
  • Sumitra Devi — Petition allowed. The Court declared Sumitra Devi, being a bona fide resident of Madhya Bharat, entitled to continue her studies without payment of capitation fees; the State could not construe the resident-exemption rule so as to exclude her by reference to a seat-allocation scheme or prior arrangements.

Direct consequences and orders:

  • Civil Misc. Case No. 20 of 1952 (Rustam E. Mody and Rajendra P. Bhagi) was dismissed with costs.
  • Civil Misc. Case No. 18 of 1952 (Sumitra Devi) was allowed with costs; counsel's fee was taxed at Rs. 50/-.
  • Order accordingly (Nevaskar, J.); Chief Justice Shinde concurred.

Broader implications: The opinion affirms that classification by residence in state-funded education — where the State finances the institution — can be a reasonable classification under Article 14 so long as it bears a rational relation to the object of the rule and is not arbitrary; the Court refused to construe a public rule by subsequent internal explanation where the wording was clear. The opinion does not purport to lay down a novel precedent beyond applying these established principles to the facts; the immediate effect is the relief granted or refused to the petitioners as above.

    Rustom E. Mody Parsi v. State Of Madhya Bharat

    Nevaskar, J.:— This and another petition viz. Miscellaneous Case No. 18 of 1952 are submitted by medical students of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore against the State of Madhya Bharat for issue of a writ of ‘Mandamus or Prohibition or direction or Orders’ as may appear in the opinion of this Court be deemed proper. Both this case and Civil Misc. Case No. 18 of 1952 are being disposed of by this order as both involve practically the same question.

    2. In the present petition the petitioner Rustam E. Mody and Rajendra P. Bhagi set forth that they are the students of the aforenamed Medical College at Indore studying iii the 4th year class. In this College capitation fee was required to be paid by non-local students under the rules of the institution. Recently there has been a change in the rules and under the present rules Madhya Bharat students are exempted from payment of capitation fees which are Rs. 1300/- in the case of nominees from, other States e.g Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Rs. 1500/- from other non-Madhya Bharat students. This College admitted students from all over India. The petitioners contend that after Indian Constitution came into force the petitioners became entitled to the fundamental right of ‘equality in the eyes of law’ and that no distinction could be made by reason of Article 15 of the Constitution on the ground of residence. They, therefore, contend that the imposition of capitation fees from petitioners who and non-Madhya Bharat students is not warranted by the Constitution and is void. They further alleged that this imposition is contrary to the claim made (in the Calendar for 1952) that the admission will be strictly in order of merit and without any Provincial bar or restriction. It is further set forth that on a representation made by non-Madhya Bharat students the Hon'ble the Minister in charge of Health gavu-assurance of sympathetic consideration and on 19-5-1952 actually in the news item of All India Radio the abolition of capitation fees by Madhya Bharat Government was broadcast. This news was further confirmed by a letter received from the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Health and. Education and also front, a telegraphic reply received by the Under Secretary to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir from the Secretary to Madhya Bharat Government.

    3. In the return filed by the Government along with an affidavit it is contended firstly that imposition of capitation fees on the petitioner is not contrary to Article 15 on the ground that no discrimination such as prohibited by Article 15 is involved in the process and neither this Article nor Article 29 bars distinctions on the ground of residence. It is further contended that the system of imposition of capitation fees is in continuation of an arrangement which had been made between participating States and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, General Council a society which used to conduct the College until its transfer to the State of Madhya Bharat, on the same terms and conditions. As for the radio news regarding abolition of capitation fees as also other materials relied on for the purpose it is contended that they were results of a mistaken and premature release of a contemplated step. On an over all consideration of the matter the Government resolved that in view of a deficit budget no relief could be granted in this direction. This was in exercise of the right of Government to review the executive action and is ‘intra vires’.

    4. In the other petition submitted by Sumitra Devi there are further special allegations peculiar to herself viz.: That she is a bona fide resident of Madhya Bharat and hence under the rules framed by Government and notified in the Calendar she is entitled to be admitted to the College without payment of capitation fees.

    5. Besides this an attempt was also made to set forth the legal basis of her right viz. to be educated in the College in question without payment of capitation fees (probably on the ground of residence). It is also contended that the demand of fees on the ground of non-residence in Madhya Bharat is based on the ‘principal (policy)’ of discrimination between ‘one citizen and the others’ and is a violation of Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution and offends against the principle of equality before law.

    6. A writ of prohibition or direction is, therefore, claimed restraining Madhya Bharat Government and the Principal of the College from demanding capitation fees and removing her name from the roll and preventing her from attending the College.

    7. To this a return was submitted on behalf of the Principal of the College and the Madhya Bharat Government. They repeated the contentions raised in the return filed by them in the other petition and some others—principal amongst which are that there is no discrimination made between one citizen and another contrary to the provisions of the Constitution nor does this violate the principle of equality before law; that the Government of Madhya Bharat has taken over this institution from the previous authorities of the institution subject to the condition that they will continue as before to reserve the seats for various participating units which had contributed to the establishment of the College and the words in the rules providing for exemption of lire fees for Madhya Bharat students were correlated to this scheme of allocation of seats and were not to be general in import.

    8. This it is claimed to be a clarification in exercise of its executive power and is final and conclusive; nor does this involve an invasion of any legal right of the petitioner. In the return it is also contended that the petitioner Sumitra Devi had at first competed for one of the seats ‘reserved for Madhya Bharat’. She failed to qualify. She later secured nomination from the State of Rajasthan representing that she belonged to Udaipur and was domiciled in Rajasthan. She entered into a bond with Rajasthan Government to bear capitation fees. She has thus by her conduct disentitled herself from praying for a high prerogative writ like the one she craves for.

    9. It will be convenient to consider the general grounds on the basis of which all of the petitioners have claimed the writ viz. (1) that the demand of fees on the ground of non-residence by the institution and the Government which runs the same is based on the policy of discrimination between one citizen and another and it involves violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution (2) that the demand also offends against the principle of equality before law.

    10. Messrs Rege and Samvastsar who appeared in the 1st and 2nd case respectively have clarified that they based their fundamental right not on Article 29(2) but on Article 15(1). I am unable to see how either of these articles can help the petitioners. Article 15(1) lays down:

    “The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, ‘place of birth’ or any or them.”

    11. As will appear from Articles 5 to 8 that right of citizenship is granted and no distinction is made on the ground of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth of the person concerned provided his satisfies requisite conditions. Discrimination on the ground of place of birth means discrimination because a person is born at particular place.

    12. If this significance is borne in mind, it is clear that a distinction if made by a State on the ground of residence in the matter of imparting education cannot mean a discrimination on the ground of place of birch. The right granted under Article 15 is a sort of a negative right and arises only on a discrimination being made on one or more of the five grounds mentioned therein. It discrimination is made on any other ground it will not mean violation of the Fundamental Right under Article 15 and no right, therefore, arises thereunder although it may or may not involve violation of any other right fundamental if it arises under any other article in Part III or general right under ordinary law of land.

    13. It cannot be contended that the Constitution confers upon a citizen any positive right, as fundamental to be admitted to any educational institution. All that a State can do is to aim are at some point of time in future, bringing about state of things in which each individual will get education of his choice but all that it at present can do is to open and maintain such kinds of institutions for education as its finances can support and to act in such a manner that its action does not transgress any of the provisions of the Constitution. This is made further clear by reference to Article 29(2) of the Constitution which is directly intended for the purpose of educational institutions. It lays down that:

    “No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.”

    14. Therefore the fundamental right bearing on the subject of admission to an educational institution run or aided by State funds will only arise on a denial of admission on the grounds of religion, race, caste, language or any of them. Hence if denial of admission proceeds on any other ground no right arises.

    15. Analysing the facts of these cases, it is clear that in the present cases:

    (I) There is no denial of admission. The students were all admitted and studying.

    (II) There is a rule made by which residence of Madhya Bharat are exempted from certain fees.

    16. Therefore neither Article 29(2) nor Article 15(1) will apply.

    17. As I view at the matter, it becomes clear to me that so far as the students who are non-residents of Madhya Bharat are concerned, there is no fundamental right belonging to them as citizens of India that has been violated by making a provision that they are not exempted from payment of capitation fees. Nor does this violate Article 14 of the Constitution regarding equality before law, or equal protection of the laws.

    18. Before considering the applicability of the principles underlying this article to the facts of the present case it is necessary to know what is the significance of these two terms viz. equality before law and equal protection of the laws. Historically, these phrases are apparently taken from constitutional conception of Briton and United States of America respectively and therefore it is to the standard works on constitutional subjects of these countries we must have a recourse in order to understand the true import and limitations of these phrases. According to Prof. Dicey equality before law means equal subjection of all classes to the ordinary law of the land administered by ordinary Courts. In this sense, it excludes the idea of any exemption of officials or others from the duty of obedience to the law which governs other citizens from the jurisdiction of ordinary tribunals.

    19. The principle of equality before law is not violated by the existence of special laws providing for special groups of subject e.g soldiers, lawyers, doctors etc. Such laws may not affect the rest of the public but affect the members of particular calling. But in enforcement of these laws and in enforcement of ordinary laws no distinction can be made between one person and another. This “principle comes into play not in any controversy regarding legality of any law enacted by the State. It comes into play really in its enforcement.

    20. Rajamannar, C.J in ‘V.G Row Petnr. v. The State Of Madras’, AIR 1951 Mad 147 (FB) (A). Paras 83 and 84 sums up this exposition of Professor Dicey thus:

    “So when Professor Dicey speaks of the principle being essential part of the (British) Constitution, he means the law of the land shall be enforced equally without any distinction being made on any ground whatever.”

    21. As regards the phrase equal protection of the laws, the same learned Judge Rajamannar C.J of Madras High Court says in the same case:

    “The other concept of the equal protection of the laws' undoubtedly comes from the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Ordinarily, one should expect therefore, a great deal of light to be thrown on meaning of the phrase by the decisions of the S.C of the United States. Unfortunately, however, this phrase occurs along with another, phrase ‘due process of law’ and in pronouncing on the validity of State laws, Courts in America have referred to both provisions leaving it uncertain which provision was deemed the most pertinent and potent in the premises. (See Willoughby, Students' Edition page 823). In the famous passage from the judgment of Field J. in — ‘Barbier v. Connolly’, (1883) 113 US 27 (B), which is given in extenso in the judgment of one of my brothers, that learned Judge was expatiating on the 14th Amendment which contains both the provisions of due process and equal protection.

    22. Taft C.J in his opinion in the leading case of — ‘Truax v. Corrigan’, (1921) 257 US 312 (C), conceded that the two provisions overlapped and that a violation of one may involve at times the violation of the other, but pointed out that the spheres of the protection they offer are not conterminous. The due process clause might end to secure equality of law in the sense that it makes a required minimum of protection for every one's right of life, liberty and property which the Congress or the Legislature may not withhold. The learned Chief Justice then observes:

    “But the framers and adopters of this Amendment were not content to depend on a mere minimum secured by the due process clause, or upon the spirit of equality which might not be insisted on by local public opinion. They therefore embodied that spirit in a specific guarantee. The guarantee was aimed at undue favour and individual or class privilege, on the one hand, and at hostile discrimination or the expression of inequality, on the other. It sought an equality of treatment of all persons, even though all enjoyed the protection of due process…… Thus the guarantee was intended to secure equality of protection not only for all but against all similarly situated.”

    “In short equal protection clause says the learned Judge embodies a protection against discrimination or favour of any person or class of persons as much as against any person or class or to borrow the expression used in — ‘Yick Wo v. Hopkins’, (1885) 118 US 356 (D) ‘equal protection of the laws is a protection of equal laws.’ It requires that persons subjected to a piece of legislature shall be treated alike both in privileges conferred and liabilities imposed. It prevents any person or class of persons being singled out as a special subject for discriminatory and hostile legislation.”

    23. In ‘Kathi Raning Rawat v. State Of Saurashtra .’, AIR 1952 SC 123 (E), Mukherjea J. observed:

    “A Legislature for the purpose of dealing with the complex problem that arise out of an infinite variety of human relation, cannot but proceed upon some sort of selection or classification of persons upon whom the legislation is to operate. The consequence of such classification would undoubtedly be to differentiate the persons belonging to that class from others, but that by itself would not make the legislation obnoxious to the equal protection class. Equality prescribed by the Constitution would not be violated if the statute operates equally on all persons who are included in the group and the classification is not arbitrary or capricious, but bears a reasonable relation to the objective which the legislation has in view. The Legislature is given the utmost latitude in making the classification and it is only when there is a palpable abuse of power and the differences made have no rational relation to the objectives of the regulation, that necessity of judicial interference arises.”

    24. Further to quote Das, J. in the same case:

    “What is necessary is that there must be a nexus between the basis of classification and the object of the Act.”

    25. This principle has been explained by p. B. Mukharji, J. in — ‘S.B Trading Co. Ltd. v. Shyamlal Ramchandra’, AIR 1951 Cal 539 (F):

    “No legislation in any practical sense is possible without some kind of classification and some kind of discrimination. The very nature and purpose of every legislation depend on the choice of some subject or others to the exclusion of the rest and some arena for its operation. This selective quality is inherent and implicit in every legislation. The constitutional guarantee of ‘equality before the law’ or of ‘equal protection of the laws’ cannot, therefore, be understood and construed in such a manner as to make legislation impossible for all practical purposes. Not all classification or discrimination is a breach of the constitutional guarantee of Article 14 of the Constitution.

    Equality before the law or equal protection of the laws, therefore, means that the law being there, its application should be universal in every case which answers the description in the legislation. That other more desirable objects, which do not answer such legislative description, are left out of the operation of such legislation is, in my view, a matter of legislative policy and not a consideration which affects the constitutional doctrine of equality before the laws or of equal protection of the laws. The power to classify or particularize objects of legislation must, in the nature of things, be left as wide as possible to the law-making authorities.

    But the line is drawn so as to ensure that, other things being equal, the same and similarly circumstanced persons who are the subjects of the legislation, should be equal before such law and there should be as between them, equal protection of the laws. If not, it is only then that such law is discriminatory in the sense of being an infringement of the guarantee of Article 14 of the Constitution. It is in that sense that the constitutional doctrine of ‘equality before the law’ or of ‘equal protection of the laws’ should be understood and it cannot be over emphasised that in applying this doctrine no narrow dogmatic constitutional niceties should hamper the true exposition of the Constitution as a living practical instrument of Government men and affairs.”

    26. From these observations of the learned Judges both of this and other countries it is plain that looked at from the point of ‘equality before law’ and ‘equal protection of law, it cannot be said that the State of Madhya Bharat in demanding fees from the students residing out of Madhya Bharat have resorted to a classification which is prohibited by the Constitution and is based on unreasonable grounds. After all Madhya Bharat State will be expected to provide for residents of Madhya Bharas in the first, instance as will appear from the fact that education is a State subject barring certain exceptions. Entry No. 11 of List II State List is education. Article 162 of the Constitution provides that, the executive power of the State shall extend to such matters in respect of which the legislature of a State has power to make laws.

    27. Can it now be contended that while exercising this power and providing for education out of the finances of the State, it is bound to make a provision similarly for residents and non-residents alike? There is no law that compels it to do so. The inhibition on the subject is directed towards discrimination on the ground of religion, race, caste or language or any of them as regards admission to educational institutions. It is obvious that a State can make law limiting admissions to the residents of the State itself and this would not be obnoxious. Nor will this classification violate the letter and the spirit of Article 14 as the classification is based on reasonable grounds relevant to the object of legislation and cannot be styled as arbitrary or capricious having no relation to the object sought to be achieved.

    28. If a State can make law denying admission on the ground of non-residence in its educational institution it can certainly make law on the ground of exempting its residents from paying capitation fees. This exemption of its residents from payment will be deemed to be based on reasonable-grounds because it is the finances of the State that bear the burden of running the institution. It is not unfair to charge those who come from outside the State to receive benefit of the institution run by the State to pay special fees from which the Madhya Bharat students are exempt. It would be different if any act of the State runs counter to the fundamental inhibition contained in Part III and to discriminate on the grounds of non-residence in the matter of education is not one of them.

    29. I therefore hold in the cases of Rustamji E. Mody and Rajendra P. Bhagi that they have failed to show that they possess any right as regards their being exempted from payment of capitation fees and since there is no right no question of its violation arises. In this view of the matter it is not relevant to consider whether the State of Madhya Bharat had through it officers declared the abolition of capitation fees for all students who are citizens of India and what, if any would be the implications of its subsequent statement, that this was a premature declaration of a contemplated step and that on over-all consideration of financial implications of the scheme and the present state of her finances this was not thought feasible.

    30. Petition therefore in Miscellaneous Case No. 20 of 1952 of the aforesaid two students is dismissed.

    31. I will now consider the case of Sumitra Devi (Misc. Case No. 18 of 1952) in the light of principles discussed above. No doubt Sumitra Devi is a Madhya Bharat student and if Madhya Bharat students are exempt from capitation fees by the rule of the institution then she cannot be discriminated as in that case discrimination would be arbitrary and based on no ground whatever. In her case the position taken on behalf of the State is;

    32. Firstly, since she has secured admission as nominee of Rajasthan Government she cannot claim the exemption though she be a student who is a resident of Madhya Bharat.

    33. Secondly, when the calendar mentions that Madhya Bharat students are exempt from capitation fees it really meant to apply to the students of Madhya Bharat who occupy the seats allocated to Madhya Bharat in the system of allocation of seats which existed before the College was taken over and subject to the terms and conditions by which the prior institution was bound.

    34. From the affidavit filed, the certificate granted by the District Magistrate, Indore and the return together with the affidavit filed by one of the Secretaries of the Government it cannot be disputed that Sumitra Devi is a student who is resident of Madhya Bharat. Now three questions arise accepting this to be a fact:

    Firstly, can the State of Madhya Bharat say that the term bona fide residents of Madhya Bharat should be taken to be correlated to the scheme for allocation of seats and was not intended to be of general import.

    35. Secondly, how far the fact of her being nominated as nominee Rajasthan affect the matter, and

    36. Lastly, will the discrimination involve invasion on any of her fundamental right?

    37. I shall consider these questions hereafter.

    38. The Rule framed by Madhya Bharat Government on the subject of capitation fees for the College in question is as follows: (Ex. 6/1)

    “For all students ‘who are bona fide residents’ of Madhya Bharat no capitation fees should be charged. But for other non-Madhya Bharat students the capitation fee should be retained as at present at Rs. 1300/- for nominees and Rs. 1500/- for others.”

    39. It will be clear from the phraseology used that the classification is sought to be made on the basis of residence and certain privilege is conferred on those students who are residents of Madhya Bharat. Then a further classification is made between the non-Madhya Bharat students viz. those who are nominees of participating States and others and a special concession is made in favour of the former by requiring them to pay only Rs. 1300/- in place of Rs. 1500/-.

    40. Now Sumitra Devi is both a resident of Madhya Bharat and also a nominee of other State and naturally she will be entitled to claim the privilege available to her as a resident of Madhya Bharat. It is not for this State to consider what will be the effect of this on her agreement with the State of Rajasthan.

    41. I shall now consider how far I can give effect to an attempt on behalf of the State to limit the meaning of the phrase ‘bona fide residents of the State of Madhya Bharat’ and to construe it in the context of what is styled as the accepted scheme for the allocation of seats to the various participating States.

    42. It has further been contended in this behalf on behalf of the Government that the clarification of the Rule framed by the State in exercise of its executive power is final and conclusive as to its true meaning.

    43. As regards the construction it is plain that from the phraseology used both in the Rule (Ex. 6/1) and the purport, of it in the calendar that no such limitation can be placed on its construction whatever may be in the mind of the framers of the Rule. The phraseology has reference to classification sought to be made on the ground of Residence in the State and this classification cannot be abridged on any ground based on supposed intention. It is in fact against such an attempt that the guarantee under Article 14 is directed; I might in this connection quote from — ‘Commr. of Police, Bombay v. Gordhandas Bhanji’, AIR 1952 SC 16 (G) with advantage:

    “Public order, publicly made, in exercise of statutory authority cannot be construed in the light of explanation subsequently given by officer (authority) making the order of what he meant or what was in his mind or what he intended to do. Public orders made by public authorities are meant to have public effect and are intended to affect the actings and conduct of those to whom they are addressed and must be construed objectively with reference to the language used in the order itself.”

    44. This observation was made by the Supreme Court in connection with a case under Section 45 of the Specific Relief Act. The facts of that case were that the plaintiff therein applied for permission to build, a Cinema house in Andheri which formed a part of Greater Bombay. The Commissioner of Police who had powers to grant sanction first refused but later granted permission on the basis of recommendation of the Cinema Advisory Board set up by the Government for the purpose. On representations being made against this by the residents of the locality the Police Commissioner conveyed the following order to the proprietor of the Cinema House:

    “I am directed by Government to inform you that the permission to errect a Cinema house at the above site granted to you under this office letter dated 16-7-1947 is hereby cancelled.”

    45. The Commissioner of Police was entitled to cancel the permission granted by him in his own right under the executive powers vested in him by law. When the matter came for consideration before the High Court an affidavit was given by the Commissioner to show that the order recited above was really the order of the cancellation made by him in his aforesaid right and it is in this connection that the above quoted remarks were made by their Lordships of the Supreme Court.

    46. Under Article 162 of the Constitution it is provided that subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the executive power of a State shall extend to the matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has power to make laws.

    47. Entry No. 11 in the State list refers to education. Therefore the State is empowered to take decision as to its action in imposing fees as well as carrying it out and also can make such orders for the purpose as is thought proper and in so doing it will be acting lawfully. In this connection it may be useful to refer to certain American authorities dealing with the scope of equal protection Clause of 14th Amendment. In — ‘Carter v. State of Texas’, 177 US 442 (H) Justice Gray who delivered the opinion of the Court held thus:

    “The rules of law which must govern this case are clearly established by previous decisions of this court.

    Whenever by any action of a state, whether through its legislature, through its courts, or through its executive or administrative officers all persons of African race are excluded solely because of their race or colour, from serving as grand jurors in the criminal prosecution of person of the African race, the equal protection of the laws is denied to him, contrary to the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. ‘Strauder v. West Virginia’, (1880) 100 US 303 (I); — ‘Neal v. Delaware’, (1881) 103 US 370 (J); — ‘Gibson v. Mississippi’, (1895) 162 US 565 (K)”

    48. This observation was made in connection with a case where a Negro was convicted by State Court of Texas for an offence. The accused took objection that his conviction was illegal because the grand jurors who were empanelled were selected by the jury Commissioner in such a manner as to exclude Negros or coloured people from serving as jurors. The conviction was set aside on the ground of denial of equal protection of laws. The action of the jury commissioner was an executive act and not legislative.

    49. In — Home Telegraph Co. v. City of Los Angiles’, (1912) 227 US 278 at p. 288 (L), Chief Justice White says:

    “Under these circumstances it may not be doubted that there was a state officer, under an assertion of power from the state, is doing an act which could only be done upon the predicate that there was such power, the inquiry as to the repugnance of the act to the 14th Amendment cannot be avoided by insisting that there is a want of power.”

    50. From this it is clear that even an action which is either executive or being an executive act it is outside the scope of lawful authority of an officer of a State if it is contrary to the 14th amendment was held by the United States' Courts to be within the protection afforded by the said amendment. From these authorities and the observations of the Supreme Court referred to above it is clear that in the first place it is not open for the State to say that, the term bona fide residents of Madhya Bharat used in the Rule governing the institution should be taken to be correlated to the scheme of allocation of the seats and should not be taken to be of general import and secondly this action even if it be executive or legislative within the competency of the executive body will if discriminatory be within the protection afforded by Article 14 of the Constitution as in that case it will involve an invasion of a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution.

    51. It is possible that the Government may hereafter change the rule but with that contingency I am not here concerned. I must consider the state of affairs as it exists today and to see whether the action of the Government involves invasion of her fundamental right and she has not disentitled herself to a high prerogative writ by her conduct. Now since the Government want me to construe the rule in such a manner as to exclude a person from an apparent classification made under the rule this cannot but be a discrimination violating the equal protection clause.

    52. If a person is entitled to a certain advantage as belonging to a certain group then any unjustifiable attempt to vary the scope of that Rule as to exclude that person comes equally within the perview of equal protection clause. I take this attempt of distinction in this case to be unjustifiable because the wordings of the resolution do not even distantly suggest a possibility of such a distinction. Prom the foregoing discussion it is clear that Sumitra Devi being a resident of Madhya Bharat cannot be discriminated against in the application of the rule which exempted Madhya Bharat students from payment of capitation fees and an attempt at classifying her differently being unjustifiable results in the invasion of her right under Article 14.

    53. Next it is to be seen whether her conduct two years back when she could not get admission as a Madhya Bharat student in securing admission as a nominee of Rajasthan is such as to disentitle her the protection sought for in these proceedings.

    54. The State has in this connection filed a copy of her application dated 17-6-1950 Ex. 25 submitted by her to the Rajasthan Government wherein she says:

    “My father owns property in Udaipur State and we have been residents of that State for the past two centuries. We own there ancestral property and some Jagir also.”

    55. She describes her father as resident of Ramduara Chowk of Udaipur State. We have no material to say that the applicant's father did not own any property and Jagir as alleged and that her father could not be styled as resident within the meaning of the phrase as understood in Rajasthan.

    56. Then that application was for securing admission in sawai Mansingh Medical College with a prayer for Scholarship which ultimately did not materialise. From the correspondence on record it appears that Sumitra Devi wanted an admission in the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College in question. Rajasthan Government had certain reserved seats for this College. It therefore permitted her to take advantage of one of these seats which could not be filled by them on her father executing a bond for payment of all college dues and expenses. There is nothing in this conduct as should disentitle her to the protection afforded by the Constitution. Moreover I have held that the discrimination made in this case affects her fundamental right under Article 14, no question of conduct arises.

    57. I, therefore, declare that Sumitra Devi is entitled to continue her studies in the College without payment of capitation fees and order that she should not be prevented from doing so on the ground of non-payment of capitation fees. The result is that in Civil Misc. Case No. 20 of 1952 the petition of Rustem E. Mody and Rajendra P. Bhagi is disallowed with costs whereas in Civil Misc. Case No. 18 of 1952 the petition of Sumitra Devi is allowed with costs. Counsel's fee be taxed as Rs. 50/-.

    Shinde, C.J:— I agree and have nothing to add.

    A/V.S.B

    58. Order accordingly.

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    Rustom E. Mody Parsi v. State Of Madhya Bharat
    (Sep 8, 1952)