When the plea, moved by advocate M Purushothaman, seeking direction to CBSE to follow only NCERT prescribed syllabus and books came up for hearing, Justice N Kirubakaran was informed that most of the schools failed to adhere to the direction and students were still being offered homework and nothing has been done to reduce the weight of school bags.

While CBSE produced a copy of the circular which stated that it had earlier issued similar circulars on September 15, 2004, and September 12, 2016, advising that there should not be any homework assigned to students of Classes 1 and 2, Justice Kirubakaran sought to know as to what purpose a mere circular would do when nothing has been done to enforce the rule.

During the hearing, the judge asked the CBSE counsel about the mechanism in place to cross check whether the schools implement its rule, the counsel said it would act whenever they are put to notice of such violation.

Refusing to accept the contention and noting that the circulars remain mainly on paper, the Judge said, “As you said there are over 18,000 schools affiliated to CBSE, but the board’s staff strength is a mere 1,200, which makes it impossible to ensure implementation of rules.”

As per CBSE affiliation Bye laws clause 3.3(C)–c, CBSE affiliated schools must satisfy the board’s advisories regarding no school bag and no homework to the students up to Class 2. Further, it stated that in compliance of the directions of the High Court dated May 29, it is once again reiterated that the schools may ensure that no homework is given in Classes 1 and 2.