WP(C)PIL/20/2021 of CENTRE FOR PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION AND LEGAL AID (CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR) Vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. (SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY) on 31 December 2021

1. The instant petition purportedly filed in public interest seeks issuance of a direction to the respondents to provide free laptop or tablet or any digital equipment, essential for the purpose of online classes and accessing online education, to the children belonging to ‘weaker sections’, ‘disadvantaged groups’and ‘children with disabilities’ with a further prayer directing the respondents to frame a policy/scheme in order to provide the aforesaid children all consequential charges incurred for utilizing those devices for the purpose of online classes and accessing online education including the internet charges.

2. We have gone through the record of the instant petition and have also heard learned counsel for the parties. Keeping in view the nature of the prayers made in the instant petition, Mr. T. M. Shamsi, learned ASGI, appearing for the respondents 1 and 2 submitted at the Bar that the Government of India has launched various Schemes/Programmes for all the students, like Prime Minister’s eVIDYA Program (PM eVIDYA), andNamo Tablet Yojana,and the Government of India is much more focusing on theschemes and programmes for online education and, therefore, all that has been exhorted and sought for in the petition has been taken care of by the Government of India.

Given the aforesaid statement made by Mr. T. M. Shamsi, learned ASGI, we feel no direction is required to be made to the respondents.

3. In the light of the above scenario and prayers sought for by the petitioner, we deem it proper not to retain the instant petition on board but to dispose of the same in the light of the statement made by Mr. T. M. Shamsi, learned ASGI.

4. Disposed of alongwith connected CMs. However, disposal of the instant petition shall not come in the way of the petitioner to approach this Court again in case cause survives or accrues in connection with the issues raised in the petition.

SRINAGAR

31.12.2021 TASADUQSAB:

(JAVED IQBAL WANI) (PANKAJ MITHAL) JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE