Delhi HC asks govt's response on making Health and Yoga Science mandatory in school

The Delhi High Court has asked the Central and Delhi government to submit a response on PIL seeking direction to make 'Health and Yoga Science' mandatory for up to Class 8.

While refusing to interfere in the policy matter, the Delhi High Court has asked the Central and Delhi Government and NCPCR NCERT to submit a response to the PIL looking for direction to make "Health and Yoga Science" a mandatory part of the curriculum for up to Class 8. The PIL was seeking the court's direction in this matter for the overall development of children.

While seeking the government's response, the Delhi High Court Division Bench comprising Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Dutta has said, “Then you do it. Who is stopping you? Why should you wait for us to pass an order which we are repeatedly reminded is a matter of policy … is not for us to address. You do it on your own. Why this hesitation. If you feel there is merit, do it on your own. This is a matter of policy,” as reported by Indian Express. 

The matter is adjourned to November 15, 2022.

Health and Yoga Science in school: The petitioner's stand

The Petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who is a practising lawyer and a BJP leader had submitted in the PIL, "The Right to Health (Article 21) and the Right to Education (Article 21A) are complementary and supplementary to each other. Therefore, it is the duty of the State to make 'Health and Yoga Science' a mandatory part of the curriculum up to the 8th Standard in the spirit of Section 29 of the RTE Act read with Articles 21, 21A, 39, 47."

"Yoga is a scientific and universal method, a tradition and culture of self-discipline, self-realization and self-revelation. It is not a ritualistic procedure or a sectarian bunch of knowledge; rather a medical science and life science. Besides being an excellent medical system, Yoga is a lifestyle for the integrated development of life. After enactment of the RTE Act, the study of Health and Yoga Science has become a right of the children within the age group 6-14 years. But it has remained name-sake on the papers and is the most neglected subject," the petition added further, as reported by NDTV.

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