UP High Court expresses concern over the opening of school amid a pandemic

Source: Hindustan Times

Fearing that young children may catch infection owing to their inability to practice precautions, Allahabad High Court has shown concern over the opening of schools in Uttar Pradesh amid the pandemic. However, falling in need of ordering the closure of schools, a bench of justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar requested the state authorities to preserve a watch over all colleges and make sure that all the teachers and students follow anti-Covid guidelines.

“It has been informed that schools and colleges in the state of UP have been opened since December 7. It is a matter of concern whether the teachers and students would follow the Covid-19 guidelines. There is always a possibility that young children might violate the guidelines,” the bench noticed.

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The court directed authorities of all districts to daily inspect all the private and government schools & colleges and ensure that Covid-19 guidelines vis-a-vis sanitization and carrying of masks are adopted in colleges.

The instructions were given on Friday by the bench while hearing a public interest lawsuit seeking the court’s intervention to check the spread of the infection. The bench additionally requested the authorities to apprise it of various safeguards during the upcoming ‘Magh Mela’ amid the pandemic and sought details of preparations at bathing ghats at numerous riverbanks throughout the annual honest.