SC Directs States To Implement Safety Guidelines In Schools & Ensure Students Don’t Suffer From Any ‘Phobia’ [Read Order]

The Supreme Court, on Monday, directed States to implement the safety guidelines for schools, as circulated by the Centre, and ensure that the students feel safe in schools.

“…the States shall see that the guidelines circulated by the Union of India are implemented in reality and also have an action plan so that the children feel safe in the schools and do not suffer from any phobia in schools,” the Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud observed.

The observations were made on the Petition filed by the father of a seven-year-old boy who was found murdered on the premises of Gurugram’s Ryan International School last month.

During the hearing, Solicitor General of India, Mr. Ranjit Kumar, undertook to file an affidavit on behalf of the Centre, stating that requisite safety guidelines have already been framed and issued to the States for implementation in terms of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

He further informed the Court that after the incident, the Centre has issued three more sets of guidelines and has sent them to the States for implementation. Moreover, the National Disaster Management Authority Guidelines, 2014 were also amended in February this year, in order to ensure safety of children in schools.

The Court noted that the States of Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have entered appearance in the matter. Notice was then directed to be issued to the Chief Secretaries of the other States seeking their response in the matter. The guidelines framed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) were also directed to be served on the Standing Counsels for the States.

Moreover, directing the Centre and the CBSE to upload their guidelines on their respective websites, the Court observed, “Needless to emphasize, when we say action plan for implementation, it basically conveys that there has to be accountability and visiting of adverse consequences.”

The Bench, further, agreed with the submissions made by the Petitioners and the interveners that such guidelines need to be “rigorous” and need to be followed in “absolute strictness”. It, thereafter, observed, “We agree with the said submission in entirety. However, we would like the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and the interveners to suggest any other guideline as they think fit in writing after perusing the guidelines framed by the Union of India.”

The matter has now been directed to be listed on 30 October.