Govt silent on who will monitor school bags' weight reduction: HC

MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Tuesday asked the State government to reply to questions raised about implementation of a panel's recommendations to reduce the weight of school bags.
A bench of justice V M Kanade and justice Revati Mohite-Dere, hearing a public interest litigation by Swati Patil on the adverse effects of heavy school bags, were given her affidavit in rejoinder.In it she pointed out lapses in the government's November 5 circular which directed implementation of the July 21 recommendations by the month end and put the onus on principals and trustees.
Patil's affidavit said the November 5 GR is ambiguous and misconceived. "The whole world is watching this PIL as no court in the world has come out with solution for reducing the school bag burden," it said. It also said "the statements are bald and there is no teeth to implement the object maintained therein."
Patil said the government has failed to mention who is going to monitor the implementation of the panel's recommendation. She questioned if the government will form a committee to monitor the situation and what punishment will be meted if the recommendations are not implemented. Pointing out that out of 44 recommendations of the panel only 10 are approved, she questioned what about the rest.
The judges asked the government's advocate to reply and adjourned the hearing.