Greeva Garg –
The Kerala High Court has directed the Centre and the State Government to provide infrastructure facilities for the students of Elementary Schools for attending online classes in the pandemic.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Kerala High Court alleged violation of the Fundamental Right of free education as per Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The PIL was heard by the Bench comprising Chief Justice S. Manikumar and Justice Shaji P.Chaly.
The plea was filed by M Abdullatheef, General Secretary, Muslim Students Federation, who is also a social worker, submitted that marginalised and poor children should not be deprived of education due to lack of infrastructure facilities to attend online classes.
He asserted in his plea that the Centre, the State Government and the local authorities should fulfil their duties to provide free and compulsory education to children till the age of 14 years.
In contention to the plea, Advocate Muhammed Shafi M, representing the petitioner added that Article 45 imposes an absolute duty on the State to provide free and compulsory education to all children until they complete the age of 14 years in amidst any circumstances.
The PIL mentioned a suicide incident, where a girl named Devika committed suicide last year for not being able to attend online classes. The petitioner sought avoidance of such incidents by the effective response of the Government.
