The Bombay High Court (HC), as an interim relief, has allowed schools to conduct online classes for children of classes I and II. Restraining the Maharashtra government to take any coercive action against schools, the court directed the state to file its response in a week.

The Bombay HC comprising division bench of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice NR Borkar has also directed schools not to take action against those students who do not wish to or cannot attend online classes. While hearing a petition filed by Parents Teachers Associations of United Forum and two parents against the June 15 order of the state government suspending online learning for students up to class II, advocate Swaraj Jadhav informed the court that the state’s decision to restrain schools from conducting online classes is unscientific and violates the fundamental right of children to life and education.

However, the state, through additional government pleader Bhupesh Samant, opposed the plea saying that the decision was made to safeguard class I and II students from being exposed to the harmful effects of digital devices that are used to conduct online classes.

The court posted the matter for next hearing on August 7.