'Mental Health Not Considered': Kerala High Court Quashes Order Making Saturdays Working For Schools

Quashing the government order declaring Saturday as working days in the school calendar for the academic year 2024-2025, the Kerala High Court asked the state government to reconsider the matter after taking into account the views of the stakeholders.

Amid protest from students, teachers and parents, Director of General Education, in June this year declared 25 Saturdays as working days out of 35 Saturdays in an academic year. Setting aside the direction, the High Court reasoned that the decision to implement a six-day in schools adding Saturdays was made without considering its adverse effects on the mental health of students.

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Many writ petitions were filed by students, teachers, associations, and parents, which challenged the order of the Director of General Education.

Hearing the case, Justice Ziyad Rahman A. A. said that the decision was made without analyzing or studying the advantages and disadvantages of the change through expert research or consultations. The judge noted that education is a comprehensive package and not confined to academic studies alone, as it also includes the qualities that a student acquires and imbibes through interactions with fellow students, teachers, parents, and other members of society.

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“Such interactions can occur only if the students are provided with ample opportunities for the same through recreational activities, sports, games, the arts, or other methods that could implant within them an affinity for social commitments and personal relationships. The activities of organizations such as NCC, NSS, etc. are also essential, and necessary provisions for the same are also to be made,” Justice Ziyad Rahman stated.

The petitioners challenged the government’s decision, arguing that the Director of General Education was an executive authority and lacked the powers to make policy decisions. They also highlighted that the new academic calendar for Saturday working days was published without hearing from necessary stakeholders. The petitioners further contended that the policy decision within the realm of the state government would require amendments to the Kerala Education Act and Rules.