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Karnataka HC Stays Govt. Ban on Online Classes For LKG to Class 10
The high court on 8 July declared stay on Karnataka state government’s blanket ban on online education, which was imposed on the 15 June, and amended on 27 June
This comes after the High Court hearing of a petition filed by a group of parents and private school managements questioning the ban order issued by the state education department banning online classes. On 27 June, after the government’s blanket ban of 15 June, they allowed schools to conduct online classes until an expert committee submitted its report.
The High Court, on 8 July, however, stayed the initial ban and the subsequent restrictions imposed on schools against conducting online classes from pre-primary to 10th std.
The bench agreed on the violation of fundamental rights under section 21 and 21 A even though the state passed the order under article 163. The court also noted that the academic term for 20-21 had already commenced, and with schools being closed, the only way of imparting education was by providing the facility of online coaching/online training.
However, the Court clarified that school authorities have no right to make online education compulsory for students, or charge any extra fee for the same. The Bench held,
"Our order should not be construed to mean that students who do not opt for online education should be deprived of their normal education as and when the schools are able to start education."
The order passed by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Natraj Rangaswamy reads, "That part of the orders dated June 14 and June 27 which impose ban/embargo on the conduct of online classes by the schools from LKG to Class 10 will remain stayed."