The Supreme Court of India, on November 8, declined to hear a plea urging the government to appoint "yoga mitra" instructors in schools across the country.
The bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that such a matter falls within the purview of policy decisions. The petitioner, advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, was informed of the decision during the hearing, according to a report by PTI.
Chief Justice Chandrachud, a yoga practitioner himself, acknowledged yoga’s significance for overall development but reiterated that the court could not direct policy changes. "As a person who practices yoga himself, I can say it’s important for development, but this lies in the policy domain," CJI Chandrachud was quoted as saying in a tweet by LiveLaw. Following the bench's response, Upadhyay sought permission to withdraw his plea, which the court granted.
The petition highlighted that incorporating yoga into the education system aligns with children’s constitutional rights, specifically their right to health under Article 21 and right to education under Article 21A. It argued that "the right to health includes prevention and protection of health," which is essential to enable children to live with dignity. The plea contended that the state has a constitutional obligation to not only appoint yoga instructors in schools but also to establish an environment conducive to good health.
Additionally, the plea referred to Articles 39 and 47 of the Constitution, asserting that these provisions place responsibility on the state to improve the health and well-being of its citizens, particularly children. The petitioner argued that this duty includes providing adequate information, instruction, and training to support health and wellness. However, with the Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene, the future of integrating yoga instruction in schools remains in the hands of policymakers.