Taking serious note of 367 out of 1,434 schools in Chennai city not having playgrounds, the Madras High Court has directed the State government to constitute a committee headed by the School Education Secretary to ensure that all schools in the State provide equal attention to physical education too along with academics.
Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice N. Mala said the committee must be constituted within a month and it must first identify the schools that lacked requisite infrastructure to impart physical education. Thereafter, steps must be taken to ensure that the institutions get equipped fully to ensure the wellbeing of students.
The orders were passed while disposing of a public interest litigation petition filed by freelance journalist P.R. Subas Chandran of Chennai in 2018. The judges said the petitioner should be associated with the committee and that his experience on the issue could be utilised as he appeared to be interested in children’s physical and mental health.
