Cannot order reopening of all schools, says HC

Cannot order reopening of all schools, says HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.01.2021

The Madras high court has refused to entertain a plea seeking direction to the state government to reopen all schools immediately.

“Courts cannot interfere in such decisions of the state. It would not be right to pressure the state government in opening schools for all classes and it is the state that is appropriate to make such decisions,” the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said on Thursday.

The bench made the observation on a public interest writ petition filed by Chengalpattu District Private Schools Association.

According to the petitioner-association, closure of the schools in view of the pandemic had led to several children undergoing severe mental stress.

Since the state has taken a decision to open schools for higher classes, a phased opening of all the other classes should also be carried out.

Classes can be held in two shifts with capacity being reduced by 50% in each of the shifts, the association said.

Refusing to grant any relief, the court, however, granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the court once again if the situation persists.