Govt. order against vacation classes need of the hour: HC

Vacations are necessary as they give students a break after a hectic academic year and help them rejuvenate themselves for the next one, the Kerala High Court said on Wednesday while terming a State government order prohibiting schools from conducting classes during the summer holidays a “need of the hour”.

Vacations are necessary as they give students a break after a hectic academic year and help them rejuvenate themselves for the next one, the Kerala High Court said on Wednesday while terming a State government order prohibiting schools from conducting classes during the summer holidays a “need of the hour”.

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan was of the view that holidays allow students to shift their focus from traditional study to extracurricular activities and also spend time with their kith and kin.

“There is a purpose in giving vacations to the student community. After a hectic academic year, the students need a break. The students should enjoy the vacations and rejuvenate for their next academic year. Holiday breaks allow the students to shift their focus from traditional study materials. They can reach their other ambitions in extracurricular activities, which they are generally not able to address during the school year. Summer vacation is necessary for the students for spending time with their kith and kin and for a mental break,” the court said.

The court said that another hectic academic year is coming and before that a break was necessary for students, especially those of Class 10 and higher secondary classes.

“In such a situation, I am of the considered opinion that the order passed by the DGE [Director of General Education] is the need of the hour. This court need not invoke the powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to interdict an order passed by the DGE.

“Let them (students) sing, let them dance, let them eat their favourite food leisurely without the fear of next day’s homework, let them enjoy their favourite television programmes, let them play cricket, football or their favourite sports items and let them enjoy trips with their kith and kins,” the court said.

The observations by the court came while hearing several writ petitions by CBSE schools challenging an order dated May 3 issued by the DGE directing all primary, secondary and higher secondary schools in government, aided and unaided sectors not to conduct vacation classes.