Members of the Inner Club Association teach free yoga classes to Corporation School students at Model School, Thousand Lights in Chennai on Friday. | Photo credit: Ragu R

The Supreme Court on Friday (November 8, 2024) refused to consider a plea asking all states to appoint ‘yoga mitra’ instructors for school children.

A Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra told petitioner’s lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay that it was a matter of policy.

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“As someone who practices yoga, I can say that it is important for development, but that is purely in the policy domain of the government,” the CJI remarked.

When Mr. Upadhyay sought permission to withdraw his plea, the bench granted it.

The plea claimed that integration of yoga in education not only ensures children’s right to health under Article 21 but also complements their right to education under Article 21A.

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“The right to health includes prevention and health protection and constitutes a minimum requirement to enable children to live with dignity. Thus, the State not only has a constitutional obligation to establish “yoga mitra” in schools, but also to ensure the creation and maintenance of conditions conducive to good health. »

The plea states that Article 21, read with Articles 39 and 47, imposes on the State the responsibility to improve the health of its citizens, especially children, and to provide the necessary information, instructions, training and supervision about this.