The High Court · 2025

Judgment

3. The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. The Commissioner and Director of School Education, State of Telangana, Nampally Hyderabad. The District Education Officer, Hyderabad District, Opp. Fateh Maidan, Abids, Hyderabad.

4. The Principal, St. Marks Boys Town High School Jahanuma, Hyderabad. ...RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 ot the Constitution of lndia praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ'of MANDAMUS Declaring the action on the part of the respondents in not implementing the G.O. Ms No 22 School Education ( SE - GENL ) Departrnent dated 18f112017, Consequential Circular No F1-412018, lS 3 dated 2411112020 issued by Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of School Education and Literacy lS-3 Section in respect of School Bags Weights having received the representations date 211612025 and 1311112025 as being lllegal, Arbitrary, Malafide, amounts to dereliction of duties. lA NO: 1 OF 2025

Petition under section 151 cPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High court may be pleased to grant interim directions directing to imprement the G.(). Ms No 22 Schoor Education ( sE - GENL ) Department dated 1gt7t2017, consequential circular No F1-412018' ls 3 dated 24t11t2020 issued by Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of schoot Education and Literacy ls-3 section in respect of school Bags weights in pursuance the representations date 21t6t2o2s and 13111t2025. Counsel for the petitioner:SRl M. MEHDI HUSSAIN Counsel for the Respondents: AGp FOR EDUCATION The Court made the following: ORDER IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SUREPALLI NANDA WRIT PETITION o.38163 of 2(J2s DATE: 11.12.2O25 BETWEEN: Y. Srinivas Reddy ..... Petitioner And The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Secretariat Hyderabad and others ..... Respondents ORDER Heard Sri Mehid Hussain, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government pleader for Education, appearing on behalf of the respondents. 2 SN,J W.P.No.38163 of 2O25 2 The oetition ra e oDroached the cou rt seekinq Dra rasun der: "......to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of MANDAMUS Declaring the action on the part of the respondents in not implementing the G.O. Ms No 22 School Education (SE-GENL) Department dated 18-7- 2017, Consequential Circular No.F1-4l2018, IS 3 dated 24-11-2020 issued by Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of School Education & Literacy IS-3 Section in respect of School Bags Weights having received the representations date 21-6-2025 and 13-11-2025 as being Illegal. Arbitrary, Malafide, amounts to dereliction of duties and pass such other order or orders as this Honorable Court may deem think fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. " 3 The. ca of the Detitio ner in brief as oer the avermen made in the affidavit filed bv the itioner in suooort of the Dresent writ oetition is as under: i) The petitioner's friends' children who are studying in the 4th respondent school are carrying excessively heavy bags, causing physical strain and health hazards. 3 sNrJ W.P.No.38163 of 2O25 ii) The petitioner submitted representation dated 2L.06.2025 and addressed to the 1st and 3.d respondents herein and representation, dated 13.11.202s addressed to the 3'd respondent herein seeking implementation of circular No.F1-4l2018, IS-3, dated 24.LL.2020 issued by Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of school Education in respect of school Bag weight policy and implementation of Government order G.o.Ms.No.22, school Education (SE General), dated t8.07.2017 respectively, but however, though the recent representation of the petitioner, dated 13.11.2025 had even been acknowledged by the office of the 3'd respondent herein no action had been initiated by the 1't and 3'd respondent herein till as on date on the said representations. iii) Though' the 1't respondent issued a memo No.4744lSE-Genl .rr/202s, dated tT.Lo.zozs directing the 3'd respondent to take necessary action, no steps had been taken. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner approached this Court by filing the present writ petition. I i I I I i I i I : i r l.r t: 4 SN,J W.P.No.38163 of 2O25

4. PERUSED THE RECORD: A) hereunder: GOVERNMENT OF TELANGANA scHooL EDUCATION (GENLIII DEPARTMENT Memo No.4744lSE-Genl.lll2025 Dated: 17.LO.2O25 Sub:- School Education Department-Representations on different issued received from general public & institutions- Forwarded- Reg. Rel 1. Representation received from Ramet Krishna Reddy, founder. ACF, Hyderabad, dt. 21.06.2025.

2. Representation received from Ramu, Prakasham District, A.P. dt. 15.08.2025, CMO.No. 1992lGE- GP 12025, dt. 05.02.2025.

3. Representation received from Swaraj Adit, Advocate, Gowliguda, Hyderabad, 13.O5.2025, with CMO.No. 5979lGE-GP lt2O25. Dt 20.o5.2025.

4. Representation received from S.S. Rao, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, dt.30.O L.2025. 5 SN,J W.P.No.38163 of 2025 5 Lr. N3 FGG/SE/REp/Representation received from Jagruthi yuva M Kagazna.gar, dt.Ol .2025, 6' Representation dt2L-o6.2o2s received through e- mail from -- - -o' .

7. Representation received from Convener, Child Rights protection Forum, Secunder"U"a, dt

11.O7.202s.

8. Representation received from Sri Saniyar and 6 others dt. t4.OT4.2O2S with CMO wo. SZgOTCeiu_ cP / 2025 , t5.o7 .2025 .

10. I 1. 72 13 Representation received from Md. Babasharfuddin, dt. 09.07.2025 with CMO No. 826OlcEN_cp /2025, d,t. L6.OT.2O2i. Representation received from Sri frllottcalinam, 25.06.2025 with CMO No. 7 623 I cBN-cP/2025, 30.06 .2025. Representation Kumar,dt. 26.Os received from Sri Amith 2025 through e-mail. Representation received from Sri Abbasani l3df1g_iri Yadav, dt. t 1 .OT.2O2S, with CMO No. 82O6lcEN-cp /2025, dt IS'.OZ.2O2S & with cMo No. 8252lcEN_cp lzi,ozs,at 16. 07.2025. !l I: ^NMRPLC /osz /2o2s, 24.or .2o2s,dr. 24.07.2025 received from the Nalla Malla Reddy Publications pvt. Ltd. 6 SN,J W.P.No.38153 of 2O25 L4. Representation received from Sri Srinivas Reddy, dt. 2L.O6.2O25, with CMO No. 76421 GEN-GP/2O25,dt. 30.06.2025.

15. Representation received from the Principal, Grace Children School, dt. Nil. t6 l7

18. t9 '.20 '.21

22. r)'1, Representation received from Sri Ramakrishna Yadav, dt. LL.06.2025. P Representation received from Sri S. Praveen, advocate dt. 14.Oi' .2025, with No. CMO 876U GEN- GP I 2025 dt.28.O7 .2025. Representation received from the TRSMA Regd.No. 2054 of 2O03, dt. 02.08.2025. Representation received from Sri Dinesh Mehta dt. 30.07.2025 through r-'-mail. Representation received from Sri Praveen, advocate dt. 28.06.2025. S Representation received from Sri K.Rajesh, dt. 13.08.2025. Lr. No.TGLIPC / MKTG/ G.O- I lO I 2025-26,dt. O3.O7.2025 of the VC&MD. Telangana Leather Industries Promotion Corporation Limited. Representation received from Sri G.Vijaya Lakshmi, dt. 03.07.2025, with cMo No. 7 899 I GEN-GP/2025, dt. 04.O7 .2025. *** -L 7 sNrJ W.P.No.38163 of 2O25 copies of references cited are forwarded herewith to the Director of Schoor Education, Terangana, Hyderabad (DSE) for taking necessary action in the matter as per rules in force. DR. YOGITA RANA SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT To The Director of School Education Department //FORWARDED BY ORDER// SECTION OFFICER"

5. Learned counser appearing on beharf of the petitioner mainly contends that the petitioner, vide detaired representation dated 2L.06.2025 addressed to respondent No.1 and respondent No.3 herein, and vide representation dated 13.11 .2025 addressed to respondent No.3, requested implementation of circurar No. FL- /I}LB IS-3 dated 24.71.2020 issued by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Schoor Education & Literacy, which pertained to schoot bag weight policy and implementation of G.o.Ms.No.22, Schoor Education (sE- GENL) Department dated LB.O7.2Ot7 pertaining to i !d 8 SN,J W.P.No.38163 of 2025 permissible school bag weights to be carried by children. However, in spite of the said representations addressed by the petitioner to respondents No.1 and 3, no orders had been passed as on date, nor any action initiated in the said regard by respondent Nos.1 and 3 herein. primary school students are being made to carry heavy school bags, which cause health hazards to young children. The circular guidelines dated 24.LL.ZO2O are not being strictly implemented by schools in the State of Telangana. Hence, Iearned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner contends that petitioner is entitled for grant of relief as prayed for in the present writ petition and hence, appropriate orders may be passed directing respondent Nos.1 and 3 to take appropriate action on petitioner,s representations, dated 13.11,2025 and 24.11.2020. 6 Learned Assistant Government pleader does not ubmisston made bv he learned disoute th counsel aooearino on behalf of the oetitioner herein. I 9 sNrJ W.P.No.3a163 of 2025

7. A bare perusal of the record indicates that vide Circular No. FL-412018 IS-3 dated 24.11.2O20, the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource . Development Department of School Education issued specifac instructions for framing a policy on children school bag as in the lines of ..Children Schoot Bags(lamitation on weight) Bill, 2006, Similarly, vide G.O.Ms.No.22, School Education (SE-General) Department dated 18.07.207.7, the State Government framed certain guidelines regarding permissible school bag weight for children from Class I to Class X in order to reduce the load of School bags, but however, the same had not been imptemented by schools in the State of Telangana. The record atso indicates that in response to the petitioner,s representition dated 21.06.2025, respondent No.1, while referring to other 22 representations made by other individuals and institutions pertaining to the same subject issue including petitioner,s representation, dated 2L.O6.ZO2S issued Memo No.4744/SE-Gen!.IIl2O25 dated

17.L0,.20,25 l0 SN,J w.P.No.38163 of 2025 requesting the Director of Schoo! Education to take appropriate action. However, despite 23 representations being forwarded under the said memo dated 17.10.2025 by respondent No.1 to the Director of School Education i.e., respondent No.2 herein the respondent No.2 herein had not taken any action pertaining to the subject issue as on date. 8 TAKING INTO C NSIDERATION: a) The aforesaid facts and carcumstances of the case, b) The submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and the learned Assastant Government Pleader for Education appearing on behalf of the respondents, c) The contents of the petationer's representation dated 21.O6.2O25 addressed to the respondent Nos.1 and 3 herein, SN,J W.P.No.38163 of 2025 d) The contents of the petitioner,s representataon dated 13.11.2O25 addressed to the respondent No.3 herein, e) The proceedings of the respondent No.1 vide Memo No.4744/SE-Genl.IIl2O25 dated IZ.LO.ZO2S addressed to the Director of School Education Department (referred to and extracted above), f) Circular No.1-4l2O18, IS-3, dated 24.1t.2O2O issued by Manistry of Human Resource Development Department of School Education. f) G.O.Ms.No.22, School Education (SE General), dated L8.O7.20L7. r \ \ t2 sN.J W.P.No.38163 of 2O25 \ :l R I a been referred to and had been forwarded to the 2nd a 3 :l T] I n n l D :t n TI I 0 l3 SNrJ W.P.No.38L63 of 2(J25 to costs. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed sDr- S.MALLIKARJUN{EAO ASSISTANT REGISTRAR 6 ,,TRUE COPY" SECTION OFFICER To, Selreta ria't, HYderabad'

1. The Principal Secretary, School Education Department, State of Telangana' 2. The commissioner and Director of school Education' state of Telangana' -''NimPallY HYderabad' 3. The District Education officer, Hyderabad District' opp' Fateh Maidan' Abids' Hyderabad. 4,ThePrincipal,st.MarksBoysTownHighSchoolJahanuma,Hyderabad. 5. One CC to SRl. M'MEHDI HUSSAIN' Advocate IOPUC] 6TwoCCsto.GPFoREDUCAT|oN,HighCourtfortheStateofTelanganaat HYderabad.IOUTI

7. Two CD CoPies DAN PSK S/ CC TODAY TAsFH I Z {: 1 <r r>1. r--f C\ ::i" HIGH COURT DATED:1 111212025 ORDER WP.No.38163 of 2025 ( * DISPOSING THE WRIT PETITION WITHOUT COSTS \o ."PtA &."