'Necessary Steps Being Taken': Telangana High Court On PIL To Make Environmental Science A Compulsory Subject At School & University

The Telangana High Court has disposed of a PIL seeking a direction to the respondent-State to make Environmental Science a compulsory subject following the decision in MC Mehta v. Union of India (1992). In MC Mehta, a PIL was filed for issuing appropriate directions to cinema exhibition halls to exhibit slides and to disseminate information on environment free of cost. While disposing of the PIL, Supreme Court issued a number of directions to the Central Government and University Grants Commission to make environmental science a part of educational curriculum. "We accept on principle that through the medium of education awareness of the environment and its problems related to pollution should be taught as a compulsory subject. Learned Attorney-General pointed out to us that the Central Government is associated with education at the higher levels and the University Grants Commission can monitor only the undergraduate and post-graduate studies. The rest of it, according to him, is a State subject. He has agreed that the University Grants Commission will take appropriate steps immediately to give effect to what we have said, i.e., requiring the Universities to prescribe a course on environment. They would consider the feasibility of making this a compulsory subject at every level in college education. So far as education up to the college level is concerned, we would require every State Government and every Education Board connected with education up to the matriculation stage or even intermediate colleges to immediately take steps to enforce compulsory education on environment in a graded way," the order stated. Every State government and every education board connected with education upto matriculation or even intermediate level was directed to take steps to enforce compulsory education on environment in a graded way.On 21.03.2017, the High Court had called for a report from the State of Telangana. In the counter affidavit, it was revealed that Department of School had taken steps to enforce compulsory education of environment in the curriculum upto school level including Environmental Studies in a graded manner from Class I onwards. On due consideration, the Court was of the view that respondent was taking steps for making Environmental Science a compulsory subject at the school level in a graded way and should monitor further upgradation in light of MC Mehta case. The Writ Petition was closed with above observations.Case Title: T DHANGOPAL RAO v. CHIEF SECY., HYD., TGCitation: 2022 LiveLaw (Tel) 69 Click Here To Read/Download Order

'Necessary Steps Being Taken': Telangana High Court On PIL To Make Environmental Science A Compulsory Subject At School & University

Jagriti Sanghi

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