Delhi High Court frames guidelines to regulate use of smartphones in schools; against total ban

A complete ban on students using smartphones in schools is undesirable and unworkable, the Delhi High Court recently said while framing guidelines to regulate and oversee use of smartphones in schools by the students [Y V vs. Kendriya Vidyalaya & Ors]..Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said that there have been major changes as regards use of technology, especially for educational and other related purposes and hence, a complete ban on smartphones in schools would be undesirable.“This court would observe that much has changed in the past years as regards the use of technology, including for educational and other related purposes. In the opinion of this court therefore, a complete ban on use of smartphones by students attending school is both an undesirable and unworkable approach,” the Court stated. The Court further observed that use of smartphones aid in coordinating with parents and provides safety and security to the students. “Without detracting from the deleterious and harmful effects that arise from the indiscriminate use and misuse of smartphones in school, this court is of the view that smartphones also serve several salutary purposes, including as devices that help with co-ordination between parents and the children, which adds to the safety and security of students attending school,” the Court stated..A complete ban on use of smartphones by students attending school is both an undesirable and unworkable approach.Delhi High Court.It was hearing a petition pertaining to an incident where a minor student was found using a smartphone at Kendriya Vidyalaya school.The minor filed this petition seeking directions to Kendriya Vidyalaya on permitting use of smartphones.During the course of hearing, Kendriya Vidyalaya requested the Court to frame guidelines on use of smartphones in schools..The Court said that as a matter of policy, students should not be barred from carrying smartphones to school but it must be regulated and monitored.Hence, it proceeded to frame the following guiding principles for schools while handling instances of school students using smartphones in school:Where it is possible to make arrangements for safekeeping of smartphones, students should deposit their smartphones during school hours;Use of smartphones in the class, school vehicles, common areas of the school must be prohibited;Schools must educate students on responsible online behaviour, digital manners and ethical use of smartphones. Students must be counseled that high levels of screen-time and social media engagement can lead to anxiety, diminished attention spans and cyber-bullying; The policy should permit use of smartphones for connectivity for purposes of safety and co-ordination but disallow use for entertainment/recreational use;The policy on regulating and monitoring the use of smartphones in school should be made in consultation with parents, educators, and experts;Schools should have the discretion to implement policies that fit their unique situations; The policy should establish transparent, fair and enforceable consequences for violation of the rules for use of smartphones in school, ensuring consistent application without being excessively harsh..Students must be counseled that high levels of screen-time and social media engagement can lead to anxiety, diminished attention span and cyber-bullying.Delhi High Court.The Court suggested punishments in the form of confiscation of smartphones as a measure of disciplining.The Court also suggested that the policy should be regularly reviewed and revised to tackle technology-related challenges. A copy of the order was directed to be sent to the Central Board of Secondary Education, Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sanghatan..Advocates Ashu Bidhuri, Swapnam Prakash Singh, Hemant Baisla, Shabana Hussain and Satyansh Gupta appeared for the minor-student.Advocates S Rajappa, R Gowrishankar and G Dhivyasri for Kendriya Vidyalaya.Advocates Anuj Tyagi and Akshita Agarwal appeared for Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights.[Read order]