Kerala High Court Mandates Playground for Schools; Orders Closure for Non-compliance

The Kerala high court has ruled that playgrounds are essential for students’ physical, mental, and emotional development, and that schools without such facilities should be shut down.

The order was issued following a petition filed by the Pathanamthitta Thevayur government L.P school PTA, questioning the district panchayat’s decision to construct a rainwater harvesting tank on the school grounds.

Justice PV Kunhikrishnan emphasized that the area of land required for school playgrounds should be specified in the Kerala Education Act, which is currently not clearly stated and is being taken advantage of by many schools.

The court also ordered the closure of schools that fail to comply despite sufficient time. Write a headline.