KERALA HC REFUSES TO GRANT INTERIM STAY ON CONDUCT OF ONLINE CLASSES IN THE STATE

The Kerala HC has refused to grant interim stay on the online classes conducted by Schools in Kerala during COVID-19 lockdown.

A bench presided by Justice CS Dias was hearing a Petition filed by a parent of a child named CG Girija seeking direction to the State Government and Technology for education (KITE) to stop online classes until all students are provided with facilities of online classes.

The Petitioner has contended that children who are living in remote areas, belong to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Community and economically backward communities do not have the facilities of virtual classes, hence were facing discrimination in terms of access to the facility.

The Petitioner therefore urged the Court to stop online classes until all students are provided with facilities.

The Counsel appearing for Kerala Government however submitted that the State was ensuring that all the students get access to the facilities of online classes which will commence from June 14, 2020.

The Court after hearing the submission said that there was no urgency to grant interim stay on the online classes at this stage.

By Shubhi Singhal of Law College Dehradun