Kerala HC Comes To Rescue Of Two Students Deprived Of Online Education; Directs Panchayat To Provide Them Laptops

In a relief to two Dalit sisters who were deprived of online education, the High Court of Kerala directed a Panchayat to provide them laptops.

The state government had promulgated a scheme to provide computers and laptop to the students belonging to SC/ST Community.The implementation of the plan was entrusted to the local self government institutions. Though the petitioners - Anakha Babu and Ardra Babu - had approached the Panchayat multiple times, their requests went unheeded.

This led them to approach the High Court of Kerala by way of a writ petition.

Taking note of the beneficial scheme mooted by the Government, the HC directed the Panchayat to provide them laptops within five weeks.

"In the light of the above said aspects, this Court is constrained to hold that there shall not be any further delay in providing laptops to the petitioners herein, who belongs to SC/ST community, and especially in view of the COVID-19 pandemic issues, most of the educational institutions are following the online method and as the petitioners cannot financially afford to purchase such equipments, it shall be ensured by respondents 1 and 2 that steps are immediately taken with the KELTRON to get the laptops and such laptops shall be provided to the petitioners herein within five weeks from the date of production of a certified copy of the judgment. ", observed Justice Alexander Thomas in the judgment.

The petitioners were represented by Advocate P.K.Santhamma. Advocate V.H.Jasmine, appeared for the Panchayat. The State of Kerala was represented by Advocate K.J.Manu Raj.

CASE DETAILS

TITLE : Anakha Babu & Anr v. The Nedumkandam Grama Panchayath & Others

CASE NO: W.P.(C) 12752 OF 2020

CORAM : Justice Alexander Thomas

Click here to download the judgment