The division bench of Karnataka HC of Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice N S Sanjay Gowda observed that there is a wide increase in cases of child labour and child marriage as children below the age of 14 years are not going to school. The bench asked the state to take time of 10 days and make a decision that whether the presently suspended “Vidyagama Scheme” can be revoked and used to ensure that children are not distracted or diverted in the times of COVID-19 as the cases have also decreased in the state.
The court also said that extraordinary situations demand extraordinary solutions. The court asked the government to look for companies for the distribution of laptops, computers, tablets, etc to envisage Corporate Social Responsibility. It also added that- “If the state government makes an appeal to CSR as envisaged under the Companies Act, the concerned corporate entities and others would come forward to aid and assist the state in ensuring that there is no discontinuity in the education of children. Particularly, in regards to Article 21-A of the Constitution of Indian and under the provisions of Right to Education Act 2009.”
These directions were given while the court was hearing a PIL filed by A A Sanjeev Narrain, Arvind Narrain, and Murli Mohan where they said that the state violated Article 21A read with provisions of RTE by not being able to provide adequate online resources to school children. Further, they said that at present only the students of 5th to 10th standard are being imparted education through Television-Chandana channel, but primary class students are not getting any benefit.
The court has listed the matter again for December 17th.
