The Madras HC directed the State to Ensure Schools have Adequate Infrastructure for Physical Education

Case: Dr. PR Subaschadran v. State of Tamil Nadu

Bench: Chief Justice MN Bhandari and Justice N Mala 

The Madras High Court, while directing the Tamil Nadu government to ensure schools have adequate infrastructure for physical education said that sports and physical activities are integral to education.

The bench passed the order after noting that about 25 percent of total schools in the Chennai district did not have playgrounds. It, therefore, directed the State to form a committee to ensure all schools had access to adequate infrastructure for physical education.

BACKGROUND

The bench was considering a writ petition filed by Dr. PR Subaschandran pursuing sufficient infrastructure for physical education in all schools. The State government pleader P Muthukumar, last week submitted a status report saying that out of the 1,434 schools in Chennai district, 367 did not have playgrounds. He further said that, however, the State government has made physical education compulsory, and has allotted specific periods for physical education in all schools. Schools that did not have playgrounds rented public or municipal grounds after acquiring requisite permissions.

The Court noted that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, also highlighted the significance of physical activities in schools.

HELD

The HC directed that the Committee shall be headed by the Government secretary of the School Education Department. It will be constituted within a month from the order.