Kerala High Court Directs Government To Close Schools Without Playgrounds

The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to formulate specific guidelines for providing playground facilities on school premises. The court directed that these guidelines are to be framed within four months from the date of receipt of the judgment. In addition, the court also asked governments to ensure that educational authorities act according to the guidelines and to ensure compliance with these guidelines.

The court passed the order while hearing the writ petition filed by the President of the Parent Teachers Association and the Managing Committee Member of the Government Welfare Lower Primary School, Thevayoor South, Pathanamthitta. The petition challenged the decision of the district panchayat to construct a rainwater harvesting tank on the school grounds. However, the proposal to construct the water tank had been dropped from the panchayat’s decision already, the court highlighted the important role that playgrounds play in a school.

While asking government to make guidelines regarding the provision of playground facilities in schools the court directed that such schools should be given closer notice who do not comply with the guidelines in the given time. Justice PV Kunhikrishnan said, “Right to education is a fundamental right of the children. The education includes play and other extracurricular activities. If there is no suitable playgrounds for games and sports in schools containing sufficient clear space for that purpose as provided in the Kerala Education Rules (KER), the government should take stringent action including the closure of those schools”.

The court highlighted Chapter IV Rule of Kerala Education Rules which emphasises having a playground facility for children at schools. However, it underscored the existing gaps in the specific guidelines in this regard. The court noted that authorities are taking advantage of the gap in specific guidelines to not maintain suitable playgrounds for games and sports with sufficient clear space.

Asserting the importance of playgrounds in the physical and social well-being of children, the court said, “School playgrounds are an essential part of a child’s learning environment providing a safe and fun place to play. The playgrounds can help children develop their physical, social, emotional, and imaginative skills. The education should not be restricted in classrooms and the extracurricular activities including sports and games should also be a part of the education curriculum”.