Rajasthan HC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Of Gen-Z, Gen-Alpha, Gen-Beta Welfare [Read Order]

Jodhpur: The Rajasthan High Court has registered a suo motu public interest litigation on the welfare and future of three generations of children and young people Gen-Z, Gen-Alpha and Gen-Beta directing the Centre and State Governments to file status reports on school infrastructure, enforcement of junk-food regulations, a policy on screen time, and steps to prevent examination paper leaks.

Background

Passing an order dated 24.08.2026, Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand, sitting singly, took judicial notice of the fact that students currently in schools, colleges and universities across the country belong to three distinct generations “Generation Alpha” (born 2013-2025), “Generation Beta” (born 2025-2039), the newly born and yet-to-enrol cohort, and “Generation Z” (born 1997-2012), presently in colleges and universities who will together lead the nation, including at its centenary of independence in 2047.

Taking serious note of recurring media reports on the condition of government schools and the challenges facing young people, the Court held that this warranted its intervention and directed that the matter be registered as a PIL titled “Suo Moto: In the matter of Welfare and Future of Generation Gen-Z, Gen-Alpha and Gen-Beta”, arraying the Union of India, the State of Rajasthan, FSSAI, and the Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, among others, as respondents.

Issues Flagged by the Court

The order flagged the poor state of government schools in urban, rural and village areas, which it found lacking in basic education, technology and infrastructure. It observed that the right to education flows from Articles 21 and 21A of the Constitution, and that the State is constitutionally obligated under Article 45 to provide holistic, scientific and progressive education to all children.

While calling for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and digital learning tools to keep pace with global standards, the Court cautioned that unbridled dependence on technology could have irreversible consequences, including the possible extinction of handwriting and erosion of independent thought. It held that “Technology is to be a tool and an aid,” not a substitute for human intellect, and called for an education policy that integrates AI and digital literacy while mandatorily retaining handwritten work, physical reading and written examinations.

The Court also took note of repeated examination paper leaks disrupting the academic timelines and mental health of Generation Z, and of the World Health Organisation's 2019 guidelines recommending zero screen time for infants below one year and less than an hour a day for children aged one to four. It observed that excessive screen time is correlated with mental and physical harm in children's development.

On nutrition, the Court noted that despite the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in Schools) Regulations, 2020 having been in force for over six years which ban the sale of high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) food within 50 metres of school gates and mandate nutrition committees in every school — no effective steps had been taken by the Centre or State for their implementation, exposing lakhs of children to obesity and lifestyle diseases.

Directions Issued

The Court directed the respondents to file a status report and action plan addressing, among other things: mechanisms to prevent paper leaks; challenges facing Generation Z such as the education-to-employment skills gap, digital burnout, gig-economy insecurity, cost of living, climate anxiety, lack of policy representation, and cyber safety; filling vacant teaching posts and implementing a “Digital Z-Alpha-Beta” plan for smart classrooms and connectivity in village schools; regular health check-ups and Mid-Day Meal audits; CCTV cameras and female staff for the safety of girl students; and functional toilets, drinking water, electricity and playgrounds in village government schools.

It further directed the State to prepare a policy limiting screen time for these generations, and to constitute a “Generation Z, Alpha and Beta Monitoring Cell” under the Chief Secretary to review progress every three months. The Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and District Collectors were directed to conduct surprise inspections of village government schools within eight weeks.

On the 2020 Regulations specifically, the Court directed the State and FSSAI to file a compliance affidavit within six weeks, enforce the ban on HFSS food around schools through monthly inspections by District Magistrates and Block Education Officers, mandate calorie and “Traffic Light” labelling on canteen menus within eight weeks, constitute School Food Safety and Nutrition Committees within four weeks, launch public awareness drives, align Mid-Day Meal schemes with FSSAI's balanced-diet guidelines, and set up a grievance redressal portal. Till further orders, no carbonated drinks, chips or other HFSS foods are to be sold in any school in Rajasthan.

Conclusion

The Court issued show cause notices to the respondents, making the rule returnable in eight weeks, and requested Senior Advocates Mr. Ravi Bhansali, Mr. Sachin Acharya and Mr. Vikas Balia to assist it on behalf of Generation Z, along with several other advocates to assist on behalf of Generation Alpha and Generation Beta respectively. The Additional Solicitor General of India and the Advocate General were also requested to appear for the respective respondents, and the matter was directed to be placed before the Acting Chief Justice for listing before the appropriate Bench.

Case Title: Suo Motu: In the matter of Welfare and Future of Generation Gen-Z, Gen-Alpha and Gen-Beta (Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur)

[Read Order]