New Delhi, 06 October (H.S.): The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking directions to frame a national policy mandating the daily recitation of the Preamble to the Constitution during morning assemblies in schools across the country. A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath said the Preamble is already an important part of the school curriculum and is taught to students from Class VI onwards across the country.

The petition was filed by Dheeraj Kumar, a professor at the University of Delhi. Filed through advocate Rohit Kumar, the petition sought directions for the formulation of a nationwide policy to promote constitutional literacy among school students. It contended that regular and collective recitation of the Preamble during morning assemblies, similar to the singing of the national anthem, would help inculcate the core values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity among children from an early age. It further stated that such a practice would promote the fundamental right to education under Article 21A of the Constitution and the fundamental duties under Article 51A(a).

The petition referred to circulars issued by the governments of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka. These circulars had already directed government schools and schools affiliated with the respective state authorities to have students recite the Preamble during morning assemblies. The petition also referred to a May 2025 circular issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which encouraged schools to share positive thoughts during morning assemblies on a daily basis. The petition contended that reciting the Preamble represents the most significant positive affirmation of civic consciousness.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar