The Rajasthan High Court has directed a ban on the sale of high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt (HFSS) food, including chips, carbonated drinks and trans-fat-containing bakery products, in school canteens and within 50 metres of school gates. The Jodhpur Bench, led by Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand, issued the directions while taking suo motu cognisance of wider concerns affecting Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Gen Beta, including excessive screen time, examination paper leaks and poor infrastructure in rural schools.
The court has also ordered schools to form food safety committees, display nutritional information and ensure that mid-day meals follow Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines. Several Union and Rajasthan government departments, FSSAI and the Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights have been asked to respond to the court’s directions.
Healthier Food, Greater Transparency In Schools
Under the directions, every school must establish a School Food Safety and Nutrition Committee comprising teachers, parents and student representatives within four weeks. Canteens must display menu boards showing calorie counts, ingredients and nutritional information within eight weeks, along with a traffic-light labelling system to help students understand what they are consuming.
The court has also directed the state to ensure that mid-day meals and other nutrition schemes comply with FSSAI’s balanced-diet guidelines. A dedicated portal and helpline are to be created for reporting violations, while inspections will be conducted to monitor compliance. The court linked these measures to the need to protect children from obesity and lifestyle-related health risks.
Not Only Junk Foods: Court Flags Wider Challenges
The intervention extends well beyond food. The court described deficiencies in government schools, particularly in rural and remote areas, as a serious concern and called for action on vacant teacher posts, inadequate toilets and drinking water, poor internet connectivity, limited computers and a lack of sports and health facilities. It also raised concerns about increasing mobile screen time and dependence on technology.
While acknowledging that AI and digital learning are necessary for students to remain globally competitive, Justice Dhand stressed that technology should not come at the cost of basic skills such as reading, writing, handwriting, note-making and independent thinking. The court also flagged repeated paper leaks, saying they affect students’ mental health, academic schedules and confidence in the examination system. District collectors have been asked to conduct surprise inspections of rural schools, while a monitoring cell headed by the Rajasthan Chief Secretary will review progress every three months.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Children deserve schools that do more than prepare them for examinations. Schools should be spaces where children are nourished, protected, encouraged to ask questions and equipped with the skills they need to navigate a rapidly changing world. The Rajasthan High Court’s intervention is significant because it recognises that student welfare cannot be separated into isolated categories.
Nutrition affects concentration and long-term health; mental well-being influences learning and relationships; safe infrastructure determines whether children can study with dignity; fair examinations shape their trust in institutions; and responsible use of technology affects how they think, communicate and access information.
The court’s concerns also highlight the need to look beyond immediate headlines. A ban on junk food may help reduce children’s exposure to products high in fat, sugar and salt, but restrictions alone cannot create healthier school environments. If nutritious food is expensive or unavailable, students may continue to rely on unhealthy alternatives.
Schools and authorities must therefore ensure that healthier options are affordable, appealing and easily accessible. Food vendors and canteen operators should receive clear guidelines, while parents and students should be included in conversations about nutrition rather than treated as passive recipients of rules.
The same principle applies to technology. Children should be taught how to use digital tools safely, critically and creatively, instead of being encouraged to fear technology altogether. This includes understanding screen-time limits, online privacy, misinformation, cyberbullying and the ethical use of artificial intelligence. At the same time, technology must not replace foundational skills such as reading, writing, reasoning and independent thinking. Students need both digital fluency and the ability to learn without constant dependence on devices.
The court’s observations can therefore become an opportunity for a wider and more constructive conversation about the purpose of education. Academic achievement is important, but it cannot be the only measure of a successful school. A truly supportive educational environment should help children grow into healthy, resilient, informed and responsible citizens who are prepared not only for examinations, but also for work, relationships, uncertainty and civic life. Do you think schools should take a broader approach to student well-being beyond academics?
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