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Synopsis

The Telangana High Court recently disposed of a Public Interest Litigation filed seeking a direction to the State Government of Telangana to make Environmental Science a compulsory subject in schools. 

In view of the affidavit filed by the State Government in pursuance of court's earlier order, the bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Surepalli Nanda opined that the government is taking necessary steps in a graded way.

"Of course, respondent should monitor on a regular basis further upgradation of the said subject so that decision of the Supreme Court in M.C.Mehta (supra) is complied with in letter and spirit," Court however added. 

An affidavit was filed on behalf of the State government which stated that the government has introduced Environmental Studies for class I and II and as integrated manner, as compulsory and separate for classes III to V and as compulsory and integrated for classes VI to X.

Moreover, separate supplementary books for science have been developed on ‘Environmental Education (EE)’ for classes IX and X. These books were supplied to all the schools in the State and taught along with the textbooks since 2014 onwards, the affidavit read. 

Besides this, the affidavit stated that Environmental Education is also integrated in the co-curricular subjects like Work & Computer Education and Value Education & Life Skills along with assessment and 2-3 periods are being allotted per week from class I to X.

The petitioner had demanded action from the State government following the decision of the Supreme Court in M.C.Mehta v. Union of India wherein the Supreme Court had issued a number of directions including the following:

• Through the medium of education awareness of the environment and its problems related to pollution should be taught as a compulsory subject.
• So far as education up to the college level is concerned, 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.

Issuing the directions, the Top Court had noted that "by now there is a general acceptance throughout the world as also in our country that protection of environment and keeping it free of pollution is an indispensable necessity for life to survive on earth."

On the instant PIL, the high court had sought a report from the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. (At that point of time, both the States had a common high court)

Case Title: T DHANGOPAL RAO v. CHIEF SECY., HYD., TG