SC dismisses plea for making yoga compulsory in schools


New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI): The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking framing of a national yoga policy and making the practice compulsory for students of classes 1-8 across the country.

A bench headed by Justice M B Lokur dismissed the plea and said it is for the government to take a decision on such issue.

"We are nobody to say what is to be taught in schools. It is none of our business. How can we direct that," the bench said.

The apex court said it was not possible for it to grant the relief as sought by petitioners - Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a lawyer and Delhi BJP spokesperson and J C Seth.

"What is to be taught in schools is not a fundamental right," it said. Upadhyay had sought a direction to the Ministry of Human Resources Development, NCERT, NCTE and CBSE to "provide standard textbooks of 'yoga and health education' for students of Class 1-8 keeping in spirit various fundamental rights such as right to life, education and equality."

The apex court had on November 29 last year asked the Centre to treat the petition as a representation and take a decision.

The plea had said, "State has an obligation to provide health facilities to all the citizens, especially to children and adolescents. In a welfare state, it is obligation of the State to ensure the creation and sustenance of conditions congenial to good health."

It had said that right to health cannot be secured without providing 'yoga and health education' to all children or framing a 'national yoga policy' to promote and propagate it.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • SMR, Karkala

    Tue, Aug 08 2017

    After prestigious campus invasion by last HRD minister Smriti Irani, now the guns are trained at lower primary schools in the name of Yoga.

    Extra curricular activities are always part of the primary schools in the past one has free will to choose.
    Despite India being a birthplace of 'Yoga' with flexible bodies, in last few decades even one Gold medal can't be brought from Olympics.

    When nation like Finland routinely tops rankings of global education systems and is famous for having no banding systems — all pupils, regardless of ability, are taught in the same classes. In India we are imposing 'Yoga' as commercial in schools.
    When 'Yoga' became Ramdev brand now another controversy from Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, headed by RSS activist Dinanath Batra in a five-page list of recommendations has demanded a host of changes in school curriculum.
    PM Modi's lynching India which spends one of the lowest budget from its GDP for lower primary system which can't afford even egg in school meals know wanted free 'Yoga'.
    Is 'Yoga' is more important than improving standard of education? Does government understand its priorities?
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Swamy, Mangalore

    Tue, Aug 08 2017

    Children are sent to school to learn and get educated so that they can make better decision themselves about good and bad, right or wrong. Nobody has to impose one's will upon them on these matters.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter, KSA

    Tue, Aug 08 2017

    Next Ashwini Kumar and JC Seth will petition to make compulsory for students to drink Gau Moothra instead of water for health reason.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, udupi

    Tue, Aug 08 2017

    if kneeling down is a asaan ..its compulsory already in all schools since the 80's..

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • FRANCIS, Dubai

    Tue, Aug 08 2017

    A very good move by the Supreme court.

    It's like "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink"............

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Aug 08 2017

    Yoga should be taught by genuine Yogis ...

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Tue, Aug 08 2017

    Great decision by SC.
    Back fire or one or one more U-Turn ?
    Baba will be hurt for sure.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Tue, Aug 08 2017

    SC dismisses plea for making yoga compulsory in schools.

    It is a Welcome Move the the honourable supreme court.

    Thanks to the Judge

    DisAgree [5] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: SC dismisses plea for making yoga compulsory in schools



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.