Karnataka High Court Seeks Suggestions From High Powered Committee To Bring Dropped Out Children Back To School

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J M Khazi were informed about the memo dated June 1, filed by Senior Advocate K N Phaneendra appearing as amicus curiae, stating that approximately 4,52,238 children aged upto 3 years and approximately 5,33,206 children between 4 to 6 years, have not been enrolled to Anaganwadi.

Following which the bench said, "The High Powered Committee committee constituted by this court shall meet on July 16, and shall consider the issue pertaining to out of school children in the entire State of Karnataka and suggest measures to this court to bring the children back to school." The committee is headed by the Chief Secretary of the State.

The direction was given during the hearing of a suo-motu petition based on media reports highlighting a large number of children dropping out of school.

Earlier, in its order dated July 28, 2021 the court had noted that as per a survey conducted by the Rural Development and Panchayath Raj Department, of all the children in the age group of 0 to 18 years, it was found that 1,26,245 children in the age group of 03 to 06 years are not going to school. It was also reported that 33,344 children are not going to school and 9,716 children are not enrolled in any school.

The court granted time to the government to respond to the memo and posted the matter for further hearing on August 18.

Case Title: REGISTRAR (JUDICIAL) v. THE CHIEF SECRETARY

Case No: WP 15768/2013