Delhi High Court dismisses PIL against full physical reopening of schools

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), challenging the full physical re-opening of schools.

New Delhi, March 29: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), challenging the full physical re-opening of schools, amid the spread of Covid-19. The PIL contended that permitting physical classes for school-going children without any preparation and vaccination would lead to spread of Novel Coronavirus among the children and adults as well.

The Counsel for the petitioner submitted that children aged less than 14 years cannot be compelled to attend school physically, when they have not been vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus. It further submitted that Right to Life was very important and the consent of parents should be made mandatory for restarting the physical classes. The plea sought direction to the Delhi government to recall the decision on 100 per cent physical re-opening of schools with effect from April 1, until the school-going children were completely vaccinated.

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Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla dismissed the petition, stating that the plea cannot be entertained without any expert opinion, only on the basis of apprehension of the petitioner. The Court said that a balance has to be struck and the children were losing more by not attending school and there was nothing to show that the Right to Life of children would be endangered, as there was no data to show that children were at a high risk. The Bench further said that there were studies to show the psychological impact of absence from school on children as they have not been able to develop their social, behavioral and interpersonal skills and there was no data to say that the children were at a high risk of either contracting Covid-19, or endangering their Right to Life.

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