New Delhi, September 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a comprehensive central law and uniform guidelines to curb bullying and ragging in schools and pre-university educational institutions across the country.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymala Bagchi and V. Mohana observed that the apex court had already delivered a judgment addressing the issues raised in the petition. It said a fresh petition could not be entertained merely to seek implementation of directions issued in the earlier judgment.
However, the bench permitted counsel for petitioner Yadavi Aditya Rasiwasiya to submit a representation to the authorities concerned for appropriate action.
The PIL, filed through advocate Sujata Kurdukar, sought a writ of mandamus directing the Union government, states and Union Territories to enact comprehensive legislation to address bullying and ragging among children in schools. It also sought binding guidelines modelled on the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009.
The petitioner argued that India lacked a comprehensive statutory framework specifically addressing bullying in primary and secondary schools, with existing measures largely advisory or directory in nature.
The plea referred to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights’ (NCPCR) Guidelines on Preventing Bullying and Cyberbullying, 2024, which noted that “in India, there are no laws that could handle bullying in schools. In other words, bullying is not technically illegal”.
It contended that existing laws, including the Right to Education Act, 2009, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and the Information Technology Act, 2000, did not provide a comprehensive and proactive mechanism to prevent and address bullying and ragging in schools.
The PIL sought the establishment of anti-bullying committees and grievance redressal mechanisms in schools, along with mandatory reporting requirements and institutional safeguards for children facing harassment.
The petitioner also cited the Supreme Court’s earlier interventions on ragging in higher educational institutions, which eventually led to the UGC’s 2009 anti-ragging regulations. The plea argued that while higher education institutions had a statutory framework to address ragging, school-going children lacked an equivalent nationwide mechanism.
Citing academic studies and research papers annexed to the petition, the plea claimed that bullying and victimisation were prevalent among school-going children in India.
It also referred to the NCPCR’s School Safety and Security Manual and the Ministry of Education’s Guidelines on School Safety and Security, arguing that these measures lacked statutory enforceability.
The petitioner further relied on India’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), highlighting the country’s obligations to protect children from physical and mental violence and ensure safe educational environments.
The Union of India, all states and Union Territories, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) were named as respondents in the PIL.
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