2026:UHC:3917 SL. No. Dat e Office Not es, r epor t s, or der s or pr oceedin gs or dir ect ion s an d Regist r ar ’s or der w it h Sign at u r es COURT’S OR JUDGE’S ORDERS W PMS/ 1 3 9 5 / 2 0 2 6 Hon’ble Manoj Kumar Tiwari, J. Mr. Tarun Prakash Singh Takuli, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Suyash Pant, Standing Counsel for the State. 2. This writ petition is filed by Digital World School through its Manager, challenging order dated 12.05.2026 whereby recognition granted to the said school on 05.04.2025 was withdrawn. 3. It is contended on behalf of the petitioner that since recognition was granted for five years, as such it could not have been withdrawn before expiry of 5 years. It is further contended that petitioner school fulfils all conditions of eligibility for grant of recognition and the reason assigned for withdrawing recognition is erroneous, thus unsustainable. 4. It is further contended that show cause notice was issued to petitioner on 06.05.2026 and the impugned order, whereby recognition was withdrawn, was passed on 12.05.2026. Thus it is contended that provisions contained in Rule 16(1)(a) of Right of 2026:UHC:3917 Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010 and Rule 18(1)(a) of Uttarakhand Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 have been violated. 5. The aforesaid provisions of the Rules provide that before withdrawing recognition, one month’s time has to be given to the school concerned for submitting reply to the notice. 6. Thus it is contended that Chief Education Officer erred in law in passing the order impugned in this writ petition, without waiting for the reply of the petitioner. It is thus contended that principles of natural justice is violated. 7. Learned State Counsel based on instructions, concedes that the notice was issued on 06.05.2026 and recognition was withdrawn on 12.05.2026. 8. Having regard to the fact that petitioner was not given reasonable opportunity of hearing in the matter, and the impugned order was passed without waiting for petitioner’s reply, impugned order dated 12.05.2026 is liable to be set aside on this ground alone. 2026:UHC:3917 9. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed. Impugned order dated 12.05.2026 is hereby quashed and set aside. 10. Petitioner shall be at liberty to submit reply to the notice dated 06.05.2026 within fifteen days from today. The competent authority shall consider the stand taken by petitioner in his reply and pass appropriate order afresh as per law, within two weeks thereafter. However, in case petitioner fails to submit reply within stipulated time, the competent authority shall be at liberty to pass appropriate order, upon expiry of fifteen days. (Manoj Kumar Tiwari, J.) 20.05.2026 Mahinder/