JUDGMENT :

Shaji P. Chaly, J

This writ petition is filed by a doctor by profession, said to be a public spirited person, seeking a direction to the Central Government, the State Government, and the Educational Authorities to ensure that weight of the school bags are reduced, as it is proven that heavier school bags are having adverse effect on the health of the growing children.

2. It is pointed out that scientific study proves a range of adverse implications on students as they grow into adulthood due to carrying of heavy school bags. Some of the commonly seen effects are fatigue, muscle strain, back pain, distortion of the spine's natural curves, rounding of the shoulders, poor body posture and short attention spans. Heavy school bags, it is submitted, causes cervical and lumber pains and it causes back pain in later years. It is reported that growth points in the bones by which bones grow will be damaged by carrying excessively heavy school bags resulting in abnormal growth.

3. The sum and substance of the contention put forth by the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the primary school years of a child are important for the well being, growth and development of the child. T