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Kerala HC Emphasises Constitutional Right to Education for All Students
Affirming the constitutional right to education for all students, irrespective of their backgrounds, the Kerala High Court issued a noteworthy interim order on Thursday. The court emphasized that educational authorities should prioritize safeguarding this fundamental right over endorsing non-educational activities.
The order was issued in response to the state educational authorities’ plan to send school students to the Nava Kerala Sadas, an event organized in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet.
Justice Devan Ramachandran, in the interim order, warned headmasters and principals of schools not to subject any students to activities outside the educational curriculum on the instructions of the official respondents in this case. The court highlighted that the right to education is constitutionally protected for every student, regardless of their class, creed, or status. It asserted that the duty of educational authorities is to safeguard this right rather than encourage students to participate in non-educational activities.
During the court hearing, the government assured that no child would be compelled or encouraged to participate in any event across the districts of Kerala. Despite considering closing the writ petition based on this assurance, Justice Ramachandran stated that it is crucial to ensure that authorities do not abuse their powers in the future.
