The Supreme Court of India refused to entertain a public interest litigation seeking judicial directives to the Union Government to enact a specialized, uniform national statutory law aimed at curbing ragging and student bullying across primary and secondary schools. A division bench observed that existing criminal penal provisions, child protection enactments, and regulatory education guidelines offer sufficient legal mechanisms to address adolescent harassment on school premises.
The petitioner had argued that the absence of dedicated statutory legislation modeled after higher education anti-ragging regulations leaves school-going minors vulnerable to psychological trauma, physical violence, and institutional neglect. The PIL pleaded for mandatory psychological counseling panels, independent grievance complaint boxes, and statutory penalties for school administrations that fail to report bullying incidents.
While declining to issue legislative writs, the judicial bench emphasized that state education boards and school governing bodies must strictly implement existing safety directives issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The court reiterated that enacting primary legislation falls squarely within the sovereign constitutional domain of elected parliamentary lawmakers.
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Sources:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-refuses-to-entertain-pil-for-central-law-guidelines-to-curb-ragging-in-schools/article71522951.ece