Recently, the Kerala High Court allowed schools under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to conduct vacation classes for children above 14 years of age.

The bench headed by Justice A Badharudeen ordered a two-week interim stay on a circular issued by the State's Director of General Education objecting to vacation classes.

“Therefore, in the interest of justice, the implementation of Ext. P4 (circular issued by the government in view of the present environmental condition and also to facilitate the enjoyment of vacation by the students.)  shall stand stayed for a period of two weeks from today on condition that the schools represented by the association of the writ petitioners can continue the vacation classes after ensuring proper facilities in the respective schools by providing sufficient numbers of fan at the classrooms and drinking water to adjust with the present environmental situation and the final verdict of the writ petition shall be rendered after hearing all the parties in detail,” the order said.

In the said matter, the bench was considering a petition filed by the petitioner to issue an interim direction to the Regional Director of CBSE to give permission for conducting vacation classes in CBSE Schools.

Further, the Court also noted that the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), aiming for the welfare and well-being of the students, had also advocated having vacation classes.

“In this context, it has to be observed that classes during vacation, in fact, are aimed at the welfare and wellbeing of the students, for which PTA (Parent Teacher Association) has also given consent. Therefore, classes provided during summer vacation, as consented by the school authorities and the parents and the students for the benefit of the students, need not be disturbed without valid reasons,” the Court said.

However, the court ordered that if any parent has an objection in the matter of vacation classes, the school authorities shall consider the said objection and shall defer vacation classes.

“This interim order shall not be a rigour,” the Court clarified.

This matter will be heard again after May 19.

Case Title - Kerala CBSE School Management Association & Ors. v. State of Kerala & Ors