Rajasthan HC Bans Junk Food Near Schools, Flags Screen Time, Paper Leaks

The Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur, has taken suo motu cognisance of issues concerning Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Gen Beta, expressing concern over junk food, excessive screen time, paper leaks, inadequate infrastructure in rural schools and the possible erosion of basic learning skills in the age of artificial intelligence.

People born between 1997 and 2012 are considered Gen Z, while those born between 2013 and 2024 are considered Gen Alpha. Children born between 2025 and 2039 will be known as Gen Beta.

A single



bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand on Monday banned the sale of high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt (HFSS) food items in school canteens and within 50 metres of school gates. The prohibited items include carbonated drinks, chips, trans-fat-containing bakery products and other junk food. 

The court directed every school to constitute a School Food Safety and Nutrition Committee within four weeks, comprising teachers, parents and student representatives. Details of the committees are to be uploaded on the Education Department's website.