The Supreme Court has issued notice in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the integration of legal education and self-defense training into the school curriculum across India. A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan passed the order, tentatively listing the matter for hearing on January 1, 2025.
The PIL, filed by Advocate Geeta Rani, makes a strong case for empowering students with essential legal knowledge and self-defense skills. It impleads all States, Union Territories, and the Union Government as party-respondents. The petition highlights alarming crime statistics and the need for preventive measures, relying on the National Crime Records Bureau’s 2022 report, which recorded an 8.7% increase in crimes against children compared to 2021.
Referring to this data, the plea underscores that most cases involved kidnapping and abduction, with only 39.7% of complaints falling under the POCSO Act. It also criticizes the ineffective implementation of CBSE’s optional Legal Studies subject introduced in 2013 and points to the unsuccessful private bill on legal education presented in Parliament in 2019 by MP Sudhir Gupta.
Court Observations and Key Arguments
The petition cites several grounds to support its prayer:
- Understanding Legal Rights: “The integration of legal education and self-defense training is essential for enhancing students’ understanding of their rights and enabling them to seek proper assistance when needed.”
- Preventing Crimes: It emphasizes that educating children on legal rights and self-defense will deter delinquency and violence against them.
- Relevance of BNS Provisions: The petition refers to Section 34 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which protects individuals from criminal liability for actions taken in self-defense, stating that students must be informed of this provision.
- Female Safety: Highlighting incidents of violence against women, the plea argues, “Self-defense training is particularly crucial for female students to build confidence and combat potential threats.”
Global and National Mandates
The petitioner also invokes Article 27(1) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), ratified by India, which recognizes every child’s right to adequate physical and mental development. It argues that the government has a statutory duty to ensure children are educated and equipped to protect themselves.
“The Hon’ble Court has interpreted these rights to include personal safety and security, creating a statutory duty of the Respondents to ensure that all children studying in schools are protected from untoward incidents,” states the petition.
Broader Social Goals
The plea ties its argument to the Central Government’s flagship campaign “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,” asserting that these essential programs are pivotal to fulfilling the campaign’s objectives.
The petition has been filed through Advocate-on-Record Pravir Choudhary under the case title Geeta Rani vs. Union of India & Ors., W.P.(C) No. 744/2024. As the Supreme Court takes cognizance of this issue, the integration of legal education and self-defense training in schools remains a vital subject of national interest.
