Monitor participation of children in human chains: Patna HC to govt

Patna: The Patna high court on Tuesday directed the state government to ensure that participation of school children in the human chain on January 21 is strictly monitored by their parents.

The Patna high court, while hearing a PIL filed by Nagrik Adhikar Manch, said “the government will not take action against children who do not participate in the human chain. Parents permission will be necessary for school children to participate in the human chain.”

According to the petitioner, the state government had issued a directive asking all schools to remain open on January 21 and ensure the participation of students and teachers in the human chain. “The government should concentrate more on the quality of education,” the petitioner said. The state government had also made schools responsible for safe return of children and had asked them to provide a midday meal for students after the event.

The high court’s order has come as a major setback for the state government which was planning to form a longest human chain in Bihar to create awareness against child marriage and dowry.