Rajasthan High Court Bans Junk Food in and Around Schools: Chips and Cold Drinks Prohibited Within 50-Meter Radius
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In a landmark directive aimed at safeguarding the health and physical well-being of students, the Rajasthan High Court has ordered a complete ban on the sale of junk food inside school canteens and within a 50-meter radius of school premises across the state.
A bench led by Justice Anup Kumar Dhand issued the ruling on Monday, expressing deep concern over the easy availability of unhealthy food items near educational institutions and raising alarms regarding children's growing screen time.
Strict Enforcement and Monthly Surprise Inspections
The court directed educational authorities to enforce an absolute prohibition on the sale of items high in fat, sugar, and salt, including popular packaged snacks and carbonated beverages. To ensure rigorous compliance, district magistrates and block education officers have been mandated to conduct surprise inspections every single month.
Highlighting a six-year implementation lag since balanced diet guidelines were originally framed in 2020, the court ordered every school across Rajasthan to establish an dedicated School Food Safety and Nutrition Committee within four weeks. Furthermore, canteens will now be required to display detailed menu boards showing calorie counts, ingredients, and nutritional information for every item sold, alongside ensuring mid-day meals meet strict dietary standards.
Focus on Traditional Learning and Infrastructure Development
Beyond dietary regulations, the bench emphasized that while technology and artificial intelligence are valuable educational tools, they should not replace fundamental learning methods. The court underscored the importance of developing good handwriting, traditional book reading, regular note-taking, and written examinations among students.
Additionally, the comprehensive ruling issued instructions to fill vacant teaching positions in rural government schools, upgrade smart classrooms, expand internet connectivity, and improve essential facilities such as health check-ups, toilets, drinking water, and sports infrastructure. All district collectors across the state have been directed to submit compliance reports to the court within eight weeks.
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