New Delhi Dec 22 PTI A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court against certain sections of the Right to Education Act-2009 for being arbitrary and irrational and seeking introduction of a common syllabus and curriculum for children across the country The plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay said that sections 1 4 and 1 5 of the RTE Act are the biggest barrier in expounding the Constitution and the absence of a common curriculum in mother language leads to the fostering and perpetuation of ignorance The PIL said it is the duty of the Union to effectuate a common education system but it has failed in the fulfilment of this necessary obligation as it has simply adopted the pre-existing National Curriculum Framework NCF of 2005 Centre inserted S 14 and 15 to deprive educational excellence to Madrasas Vedic Pathshalas and educational institutions imparting religious instruction Petitioner submits that S14 and 15 not only offend Articles 14 15 16 21 21A but also contrary to Articles 38 39 and 46 and Preamble the plea filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey said The plea said the prevailing system does not provide equal opportunity to all children as the syllabus and curriculum varies for each strata of the society It is necessary to state that the purposive and harmonious construction of Articles 14 15 16 21 21A with Articles 38 39 46 confirms that education is a basic right of every child and the State cannot discriminate against this most important right Right of a child should not be restricted only to free education but must be extended to have equal quality education without discrimination on the ground of childs social economic and cultural background Therefore the Court may declare Sections 14 and 15 arbitrary irrational and violative of Articles 14 15 16 and 21 and direct the Centre to implement common syllabus and common curriculum for the students of I-VIII standard throughout the country the plea said The petition said that a common minimum education programme for the children up to 14 years would achieve the code of common culture removal of disparity and depletion of discriminatory values in human relations PTI PKS SMN

London [UK], November 21 (ANI/Sputnik): At least 30 people were arrested in London, where eco activists blocked Lambeth Bridge during their Saturday demonstration, London police said.