Karnataka HC stays government ban on online classes

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday stayed the government order imposing a ban on online classes for students of LKG to Class 5 and putting restrictions on digital education for students of Class 6 to 10.

The interim order was passed by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Nataraj Rangaswamy after hearing a batch of petitions filed by parents and CBSE and ICSE schools.

The bench made it clear that schools cannot make online classes mandatory or charge extra fees for conducting them.

While reading out the order, Chief Justice Oka observed that the ban on online learning violates the fundamental right to education under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. He also added that state has to take appropriate steps to create infrastructure and facilities for students in rural areas.