A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Prakash Naik said: "The government resolution issued last year for reducing weight of school bags should be implement scrupulously in letter and spirit, but it should be done in a phased manner."
While directing the state government to not press for demand of children not carrying water bottles to school where water coolers have been installed, the Bombay High Court on Thursday observed "it should not happen that children get between the fight of parents and schools".
A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Prakash Naik said: "The government resolution issued last year for reducing weight of school bags should be implement scrupulously in letter and spirit, but it should be done in a phased manner."
As per a government resolution issued last year the schools have been directed to take various steps in reducing weight of schools bags. One among the many recommendations which is being implemented in various schools is not allowing children to carry water bottles as it increases the weight of school bags and also because the schools have put water coolers in school for drinking water. However, the court said the parents may still insist their children carry water bottles because of the fear of he not getting pure/drinking water.
Government pleader Poornima Kantharia informed the court that machinery has been set up at different levels and officers from the education department have been authorised and told to visit schools and prepare reports as regards to the steps taken by schools to reduce weight of bags and implementation of resolution.
As per recommendations mentioned in the resolution, schools have been directed to take various steps like using tablets, one text book for allied subjects, provide lockers allowing children to keep books in schools, among others.
The bench though pointed out that the suggestions has to be implemented rationally. Schools in Mumbai may not be able to provide locker facilities due to space crunch and aided schools would not have funds to provide modern technologies like tablets.
The bench has now posted the matter for further hearing on July 27 and directed authorised officers to visit schools when they reopen in June and check the implementation of the resolution for reducing weight of school bags and submit their reports and data/suggestions to the concerned authorities. The government has also been told to provide data of the reports filed by officers and schools and file a compliance report on the next date.
The direction was given during the hearing of a PIL filed by activist Swati Patil seeking directions to government to reduce weight of school bags. In her petition she has sought directions to the state to ensure weight of school bags is reduced.
The resolution was issued after a government appointed committee had noted that the school bags were so heavy that 60 per cent of students below the age of 10 were suffering from orthopedic and stress-induced ailments.
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