Uttarakhand High Court takes cognisance of Virat Kohli’s video on lack of playgrounds

Star India batter Virat Kohli shared a video concerning the lack of playgrounds for children. The Uttarakhand High Court has now taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and asked the state and federal governments to file their responses in two weeks.

A division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal sent notices to the sports secretary Uttarakhand, the urban development secretary, and the youth affairs and sports secretary, the Government of India, among others. The court has inquired as to what policies the government has put in place to offer playgrounds for kids. The hearing will take place on October 9.

“They [the children] are denied a good environment, wherein they can pursue sports, which, as we have already noticed, greatly contributes to their physical and mental growth. That apart, such sporting activities also teach them social skills, which hold them in good stead in their future lives," the Division Bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal observed.

In a video that the former India captain had uploaded, he revealed the ground realities of sports in the country while interacting with some children. The High Court noted that many places lack playgrounds for kids.

Children who play "gully" (street) cricket complained in writing to the Chief Justice that there is not enough room for them to play without disturbing the calm of the neighbourhood. The High Court has requested the government to disclose its policy for the development of playing areas for kids, noting that playgrounds are essential for kids.

The court also asked if there are any programmes under the Khelo India programme in which playgrounds are to be constructed for the physical development of children. The court also observed that sports improve physical fitness and call for infrastructure. Nowadays, children spend their free time on devices like laptops, mobile phones, and computers, and the lack of physical activity results in stunted physical and mental development, the court added.