The Kerala High Court in the case Anoop v. State of Kerala observed that the textbooks for grade 7 now contain sexual awareness programme targeted at informing students, the Kerala government has informed the High Court.
The court observed that Its counsel handed over a copy of Part I of the textbook for STD VII which is about to be rolled out for the coming academic year in the schools following the Kerala syllabus for its curriculum, incorporating sexual awareness programme.
The counsel appearing for the Central Board of Secondary Education also informed the court that CBSE has launched 4 manuals to be released by end of March, 2024 for sexual awareness classes from the next academic year.
The bench headed by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas in the case observed that they have got to get it ingrained in their mind. The court in the case observed and has also remarked on the pledge designed for students to reiterate their rights around bodily consent. Adding to it, the court stated that the pledge is a good thing for the younger students. You are subtly telling what is it.
The counsel, Smt. Parvathy Menon appearing for the Victim Rights Centre pointed out that the Union Territory of Lakshadweep also ought to be taken into the purview of the aforesaid programme.
Therefore, the court has impleaded the Lakshadweep Administration as additional respondent.
In the present case, the Kerala High Court was considering a bail application when it noted the increasingly high rate of sexual offences against children due to lack of awareness
However, the Court invoked its writ jurisdiction and impleaded the State of Kerala, the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Kerala State Legal Services Authority and directed them to take steps to include a prevention-oriented curriculum in the school to make students aware of sexual abuse. The court in the case was informed that SCERT will include awareness about POCSO in their curriculum and textbooks will be prepared by experts.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on March 11, 2024.