Complete Ban On Students Using Smartphones In Schools 'Undesirable': Delhi High Court Issues Guidelines For Regulated Use

The Delhi High Court has recently observed that a “complete ban” on use of smartphones by students attending school is both an “undesirable and unworkable” approach.

Issuing guidelines on regulated use of smartphones by students in schools, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said that as a matter of policy students should not be barred from carrying smartphones to school but such use must be regulated and monitored.

“Where it is possible to make arrangements for safekeeping of smartphones, students should be required to deposit their smartphones when they enter school and take them back when returning home,” the Court said.

It issued the following guidelines:

- Smartphones must not disrupt classroom teaching, discipline, or the overall educational atmosphere. To this end, the use of smartphones in class must be prohibited. Use of cameras and recording facility on smartphones should also be barred in the common areas of the school as well as in school vehicles.

- Schools must educate students on responsible online behaviour, digital manners, and the ethical use of smartphones. Students must be counseled that high levels of screen-time and social media engagement can lead to anxiety, diminished attention spans and cyber-bullying.

- The policy should permit use of smartphones for connectivity for purposes of safety and co-ordination but disallow the use of smartphones for entertainment/recreational use.

- The policy on regulating and monitoring the use of smartphones in school should be made in consultation with parents, educators, and experts, to evolve a balanced approach that addresses the needs and concerns of all parties involved.

- Schools should have the discretion to implement policies that fit their unique situations, whether that involves allowing limited use of smartphones in specified areas of the school or enforcing stricter bans, including bans during specific times and events.

- The policy should establish transparent, fair, and enforceable consequences for violation of the rules for use of smartphones in school, ensuring consistent application without being excessively harsh. Possible consequences could include confiscation of smartphones for a certain time-period; or barring a student from carrying a smartphone for specified number of days, as a measure of disciplining an errant student.

- Given the fast-paced advancement of technology, the policy should be regularly reviewed and revised to tackle emerging challenges.

The Court was dealing with a case concerning a minor student who was visited with certain consequences by reason of misusing a smartphone while in school. The plea was moved by the minor who was studying in a Kendriya Vidyalaya school.

Justice Bhambhani noted that though certain guidelines on the issue were made by the CBSE and the KVS as far back as in the year 2009, they did not borne the desired result.

The Court said that even the more recent advisory issued by the Delhi Government's Directorate of Education in 2023 only lays-down very broad instructions to prevent the misuse of smartphones in schools.

“This court would observe that much has changed in the past years as regards the use of technology, including for educational and other related purposes. In the opinion of this court therefore, a complete ban on use of smartphones by students attending school is both an undesirable and unworkable approach,” the Court said.

It added that the proper course of action would be to articulate certain guiding principles, which the concerned regulatory bodies, education boards and other stakeholders may follow in relation to the use of smartphones in schools.

Title: Y V v. KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA & ORS.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 256

Click here to read order