Cannot Direct States To Reopen Schools For Physical Teaching’: Supreme Court

Today, The Supreme Court of India refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to the Centre and states to consider and take a time-bound decision with regard to the physical reopening of schools and conduct of offline teaching. The top court has said that it cannot direct states to reopen schools for physical teaching.The PIL was filed by a Delhi-based student seeking directions for the phased reopening of physical schools. "It is not a matter where judicial directions can be issued," the court observed. Advocate representing the petitioner contended that malls and restaurants have been opened, and emphasized on the mental and psychological fallout of the closure of schools on the students. The bench noted that children should not be involved in these matters and emphasized that these issues are fraught with grave complexity. "We don't think, we should enter here by judicial mandates", noted the bench, asking the advocate to withdraw the petition.