(1) This Act may be called the Puducherry Compulsory Elementary Education Act, 2000.
(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Puducherry.
† (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the official gazette appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act.
Definitions
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, –
(1) "attendance at an elementary school" means presence for instruction at an elementary school for such number of days, and on such days in a year, and at such time or times on each day of attendance, as may be prescribed;
(2) "competent authority" means the competent authority appointed by the Government under section 6;
(3) "elementary education" means education in such subjects and up to such standard as may be prescribed;
(4) "elementary school" means all schools, other than unaided private schools recognised as an elementary school by the competent authority and includes any elementary school in existence on the date of commencement of this Act which has been recognised as such by the Director of Education or by any authority of the Education Department;
(5)"Government" means the Administrator of the Union territory of Puducherry appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution of India;
(6) "guardian" means any person to whom the care, nurture or custody of any child falls by law or by natural right or by recognised usage, or who has accepted or assumed the care, nurture or custody of any child or to whom the care, nurture or custody of any child has been entrusted by any lawful authority;
† This Act has come into force w.e.f 01-01-2006 vide Notification published in the Gazette of Puducherry No. 7 dated 14-02-2006 352
(7) "parent" means the father or mother of a child and includes an adopted father or mother;
(8) "school age" in relation to a child means six to fourteen years of age; and
(9) "year" means the academic year commencing on the 1st day of June.
Elementary education to be compulsory