(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Delhi High Court PIL Pushes for Free Spectacles for School Kids with Poor Vision
A civil rights group called Social Jurist has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court. They’re urging the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to step up and provide free spectacles to students in government and municipal schools who struggle with poor eyesight. This move aims to protect children’s right to education and ensure no kid misses out due to vision problems.
The petition, filed by advocates Ashok Agarwal and Kumar Utkarsh, points out that officials’ delay in action is robbing lakhs of children of their basic education rights. In Delhi government schools, about 15 lakh kids study, while MCD schools have around 7 lakh students. The PIL estimates that roughly 1 lakh of these children need spectacles right away to see clearly and learn properly.
Data from voluntary eye camps held between December 2024 and August 2025 backs this up. During these camps, volunteers distributed 663 pairs of spectacles, revealing that nearly 5% of students require vision correction. Many of these kids come from low-income families and simply can’t afford glasses, which means they can’t read the blackboard or their textbooks in class.
The plea slams the government’s inaction as a breach of key laws, including Articles 14, 21, and 21A of the Indian Constitution, the Right to Education Act 2009, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, and the Delhi School Education Act 1973. Without proper vision support, these children face real barriers to education.
Social Jurist is asking the court for several key fixes. They want mass eye check-ups for all students in Delhi government and MCD schools. Once a vision issue is spotted, free spectacles should reach the child within a week. Plus, schools must conduct mandatory annual eye exams to keep education on track for everyone.
The petition includes reports from school visits and multiple letters sent to authorities since February 2025, all highlighting the lack of routine health checks and long waits for corrective lenses. Despite these repeated pleas, no solid steps have been taken so far.
The Delhi High Court is set to hear the case this week, and it could bring much-needed change for thousands of schoolchildren in Delhi. Stay tuned for updates on this important push for kids’ eye health and education access.
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