Indian High Court Issues Guidelines for Smartphone Usage in Schools, Rejects Total Ban

 

Indian High Court Issues Guidelines for Smartphone Usage in Schools

Indian (Delhi) High Court Issues Guidelines for Smartphone Usage in Schools, Rejects Total Ban

The Delhi High Court has outlined a structured framework for regulating smartphone use in schools, emphasizing the importance of digital literacy over an outright prohibition. A bench led by Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani underscored that educational institutions must teach students about responsible online conduct, digital etiquette, and the negative effects of excessive screen time, including cyberbullying, anxiety, and reduced attention spans.

Key Directives:

• NO TOTAL BAN – Students should not be completely barred from carrying smartphones, but their usage must be regulated.
• CLASSROOM RESTRICTIONS – Smartphone use inside classrooms must be strictly prohibited to prevent distractions and maintain discipline.
• CAMERA & RECORDING LIMITATIONS – The use of cameras and recording features should be restricted in common areas and school transport.
• SECURE STORAGE – Schools should facilitate a system where students can deposit their smartphones upon arrival and retrieve them at departure.
• CONTROLLED USAGE – Smartphones should only be permitted for essential communication, such as safety coordination, rather than for entertainment purposes.
• CONSULTATIVE POLICY FORMULATION – Schools should develop smartphone usage policies in collaboration with parents, teachers, and experts to ensure a well-rounded approach.
• INSTITUTIONAL DISCRETION – Schools can customize policies based on their specific needs, including restricting smartphone use during particular times or in designated areas.
• PROPORTIONATE CONSEQUENCES – Policy violations should be met with clear and reasonable consequences, such as temporary confiscation, rather than excessively punitive measures.
• REGULAR POLICY UPDATES – As technology evolves, schools should periodically reassess and update their policies to address new challenges.

Rejecting the notion of a blanket ban, Justice Bhambhani highlighted that smartphones are integral to student safety and facilitate coordination between parents and children. He emphasized that the policy governing smartphone use in schools should be developed through discussions with parents, educators, and experts to ensure a balanced approach that accommodates all concerns.

School-Specific Implementation

The High Court clarified that schools should have autonomy in shaping smartphone policies based on their individual requirements. This could include allowing controlled usage in designated areas or imposing stricter regulations, such as time-bound restrictions.

The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) had urged the High Court to establish clear guidelines for smartphone use in schools.

“It is observed that though certain guidelines have been issued by the CBSE and the KVS as far back as in the year 2009, evidently the guidelines have not borne the desired result,” the Justice Bhambhani-led Bench noted.

It further observed that even the latest advisory from the Directorate of Education (DoE) in 2023 only provided broad recommendations on preventing smartphone misuse in schools.

A Balanced Approach

“Importantly, the aforementioned guidelines proceed on the fundamental premise that use of smartphones in school should be banned. 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 Bench stated.

While acknowledging the risks associated with unregulated smartphone use, the Delhi High Court also recognized their role in student safety, particularly as a means of communication between children and parents.

The court outlined guiding principles aimed at striking a balance between the advantages and risks of smartphone usage in schools.

During the hearings, the Delhi High Court sought input from various child rights organizations, including the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and the KVS.

This judgment represents a significant step towards integrating technology into education while maintaining discipline, security, and responsible smartphone usage among students.