SC Stayed The Order Of Delhi HC Which Directed Private Schools To Provide Free Internet Connections To Poor Students

GENERAL OVERVIEW

• In a recent statement issued by Supreme Court, ordering a stay on a previous order that provided for private and government schools to provide electronic gadgets to poor students keeping in mind the recent upliftment of online classes.
• The cost was to be reimbursed from the Delhi Government under Right to Education (RTE) Act, which included the cost for all the devices along with a strong internet connection. 

WHICH ORDER ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

• A petition was filed in Supreme Court, in the month of September 2020, by an NGO, Justice for All, pertaining the situation of pandemic and how some specific section could not afford the high-tech gadgets, which could serve as a barrier for some students in comparison to their counterparts.
• The petition stated some clarification on the above issue and vividly stated that '…otherwise, the gap, between the learning experiences of children from economically weaker sections as against the relatively privileged children, will widen. The fact that EWS students are today offered education through a mode that is based on this divide would further push them back. One of the many steps needed involves equipping such students with means to have a meaningful education…” 

THE JUDGEMENT

• The Government stated that due to this unforeseen pandemic, it already had a lot of financial tasks to take care of and as SC had already stated that the appeal is not within the ambit of the RTE Act
• The main statement which clinched this order was 'TheHigh Court judgement will have huge financial implication in the state, which will be in addition to what the state is already incurring towards its obligation under Section 12 of RTE Act”. Keeping in mind the policy of Delhi Government spending 30% of its budget on school education and how its successful implication was seen in the recent performance of class 10^th and 12^th
• The Court further held that the such educational gadgets should be provided free of cost to students and the cost for the same would be reimbursed by the state in accordance with Section 12 of RTE Act. 

DO YOU THINK THAT SC SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DECISION? DO YOU THINK OTHERWISE? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS!!