The Delhi High Court said in one of its orders that students cannot be banned from carrying smartphones in schools. The court has also laid down guidelines for carrying phones in schools. The court said that schools can monitor the smartphones of students. The court gave these orders while hearing a case of misuse of smartphone in school by a minor student of Kendriya Vidyalaya. The court also laid down several guidelines regarding smartphones in schools.
The Delhi High Court has underlined that imposing a complete ban on the use of smartphones by school students is an undesirable and impractical approach. In a first-of-its-kind decision, the court also laid down rules to guide schools to formulate a policy for the use of smartphones by students. Examining the guidelines issued by government bodies and school boards in this regard, Justice Anup J Bhambhani said that students cannot be banned from carrying smartphones in school. The court was hearing the case of a minor student who misused a smartphone in school, due to which the concerned Kendriya Vidyalaya took strict action against him.
However, during the hearing, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan urged the High Court to frame guidelines for the use of smartphones in schools. The High Court acknowledged the harmful effects of indiscriminate use and misuse of smartphones in school, but said that smartphones also serve many beneficial purposes, including helping in coordination between parents and children, which enhances the safety of school-going students.
The court also stressed that a lot has changed over the years with regard to the use of technology, including for educational and other related purposes. As a matter of policy, students should not be barred from carrying smartphones to school, but the use of smartphones in school should be regulated and monitored.
The court directed that students should be required to deposit their smartphones when entering the school and return them when they return home. Smartphones should not disrupt classroom teaching, discipline or the overall educational environment. For this, the use of smartphones in the classroom should be banned. The use of cameras and recording features on smartphones should be prohibited in school common areas as well as in school vehicles.
Schools should educate students about the ethical use of smartphones. The High Court said that the policy should allow the use of smartphones for connectivity and security and coordination purposes, but they should not be allowed for entertainment use.
