Lighter school bags: Bombay High Court asks state to issue directives within 4 weeks

The committee report had earlier put a cap on weight of school bags, stating that it should not exceed 10 per cent of the student’s body weight.

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A panel had earlier put a cap on weight of school bags stating it should not exceed 10 pc of the student’s body weight. (Express Photo)

THE Bombay High Court Wednesday said the state government should, within four weeks, issue a circular to schools for implementation of a panel’s recommendations for reducing the weight of school bags. The circular will include the date on which the recommendations became applicable, besides mentioning the person responsible for implementation of directions in schools.

The committee report had earlier put a cap on weight of school bags, stating that it should not exceed 10 per cent of the student’s body weight. The directions were issued by a bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi while hearing a public interest litigation by Swati Patil on reducing the weight of school bags and for direction to implement an earlier government resolution.

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The latter included making available lockers for children if possible, a single notebook for subjects like Algebra and Geometry and keeping books for subjects like drawing, physical education and computers at school.

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The state government’s advocate Anjali Helekar said there are over one lakh schools and it will take time for its implementation. But the bench said most schools have their own website. “You can send emails,” said Justice Kanade.

The bench, granting four weeks to the government, said instructions in the circular must be in a clear and simple language stating that children should not carry school bags beyond a certain weight. The court also said it should be seen if it is possible to provide lockers. “To comply with recommendations, time-table may be accordingly changed. We hope that in four weeks’ time, the circular is issued,” said the HC, adding that care should be taken to ensure all subjects do not fall on the same day. The government has been asked to file an affidavit annexing the circular in four weeks.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

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