PIL In SC Seeks Order To Stop Online Classes Until Formulation Of Comprehensive Guidelines For Hosting In Encrypted And Safeguarded Manner

A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking for guidelines to regulate online classes through video-conferencing/virtual learning classes for small children due to the existence of a threat to small children being exposed to "highly suggestive and obnoxious materials available on the internet". In the alternative, it seeks for directions to the Respondents to immediately discontinue online classes till comprehensive guidelines are formulated for hosting of classes in a completely encrypted and safeguarded manner. Filed through Advocate Shashank Deo Sudhi on behalf of Dr. Nand Kishore Garg, the plea states that there is a growing concern of the vulnerability of the small children towards "cyber predators and other online driven pornographic open websites which are having a serious bearing on the educational development of children". "The Petitioner being a concerned citizen of the country feels it is his paramount duty to raise the issue for formulation of comprehensive guidelines in respect of conducting the online classes through highly safeguarded and identified independent video applications through which e-learning can be made available to the lakhs of impressionable small children without any threat of being exploited by cyber predators".