Recently, Calcutta High Court has directed the West Begal government to take positive steps to bring back students who have dropped out of schools post the COVID-19 pandemic.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya held, "That apart, the Commissioner of School Education shall also call for reports from various districts as regards the students strength in the respective schools both prior and post Covid-19 pandemic and necessary steps can be taken to sensitise the parents of those children regarding the need for education. Also, steps have to be taken to provide clean atmosphere, good drinking water, mid-day meal etc. to bring back the drop out students to school,"

The PIL filed by Advocate Sayan Banerjee. In his PIL he submitted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, on account of classes being disrupted and lack of facilities for online classes, a large number of students dropped out from government schools. Therefore, the petitioner sought appropriate directions to the State to bring students back to school.

While dismissing the PIL , the bench observe -

"We hope and trust that the observations made by us in this order will be taken in the right spirit and the government will take pro-active steps to the grievance expressed,"