Chennai: Madras High Court has temporarily restrained a school in Kancheepuram district from making it mandatory for students to have the lunch and snacks provided by the institution for a fee.
It issued notices to the Union HRD ministry, CBSE and Hiranandani Upscale School and posted the case for further hearing to September 29.
The order was issued by Justice M. Sathyanarayan recently on a petition by Bharathi Rajendran.
"Going through the materials provided, the court is of the view that the circular issued by the CBSE only mandates particular institution/ school to inspect the lunch box (of students) to check bringing of unhealthy food, but not compel the students to take lunch or snacks provided by the school by paying charges," it said.
The order is valid till September 29, the judge said.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the CBSE circular nowhere asks schools to provide lunch or snacks to all the children in the school and charge them for the food.
He submitted that Hiranandani Upscale School had made it compulsory for all the students to have meals or snacks after paying necessary charges.