Telangana HC asks educational institutions to conduct online classes following low attendance

Hyderabad: Following low attendance due to fear of COVID-19, the Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed educational institutions in the state to conduct online classes.

On 29 January, the state education minister, Sabitha Indra Reddy, had announced that all educational institutions in Telangana will reopen from 1 February. All schools, colleges, and universities re-opened but the attendance remained poor as the state continued to report a large number of COVID-19 cases. With many students and even teachers down with COVID symptoms, the majority of the private schools and colleges have not resumed physical classes.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili directed the government to make available the option of online classes in private and government schools up to 28 February to students who wish to not attend schools physically.

Meanwhile, the GHMC said that all steps are being taken to ensure that COVID-appropriate behavior is being followed at the weekly Rythu bazaar. GHMC had submitted an affidavit to the High Court stating that in view of the pandemic "many measures have been evolved…to strike a balance between the livelihood of the vendors of Rythu bazaar and at the same time to see that the point of sale does not become a place that has the propensity for the transmission of COVID-19".

Also, the court has asked the state to submit a report on those violating the mandatory mask rule and the fines imposed against them. The report is to be submitted during the next hearing scheduled for 16 February.