110 S.W. 739 | Tex. | 1908
This is a petition for a writ of mandamus to compel the Governor of the State, its Comptroller of Public Accounts and its Secretary of State, composing the State Board of Education to rescind their action in affirming a ruling of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The statute which authorizes this court to issue writs of mandamus reads as follows: "The supreme court, or any justice thereof, shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus as may be prescribed by law; and the said court, or the justices thereof, may issue writs of mandamus, procedendo, certiorari and all writs necessary to enforce the jurisdiction of said court; and in term time or vacation may issue writs of quo warranto or mandamus against any district judge or officer of the State government, except the Governor of the State." (Rev. Stat., art. 946.)
In Betts v. Johnson (
Besides it is sought by this proceeding to compel the State Board of Education to set aside its order affirming the action of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and to make a different decision. A tribunal may be compelled by the writ of mandamus to proceed to the decision of a question, but it is never the function of the writ to determine what the decision shall be. If the action of the School Trustees of the county was without authority of law and therefore void (a question which is not before us and which we therefore do not decide) then the action of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and of the State Board of Education in affirming such order is also void. It would seem therefore that the remedy of the relator is to apply to the person primarily charged with the duty of admitting pupils to the schools of the district for admission to the school and should he refuse *574 to proceed by a writ of mandamus in the District Court to compel him to do so.
The writ of mandamus is refused.
Mandamus refused.