Rajasthan HC Bans Junk Food Near Schools, Flags Gen Z Issues

The Rajasthan High Court has issued a sweeping set of directives aimed at improving the health, safety, and educational environment for children, ordering a ban on junk food in and around schools and addressing broader concerns about digital habits and rural infrastructure. The Jodhpur bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand took suo motu cognisance of what it described as systemic deficiencies affecting younger generations, including Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and the emerging Gen Beta. In its most prominent food-related order, the court prohibited the sale of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt (HFSS) food products, including carbonated drinks and chips, within school canteens and within a 50-metre radius of school gates. The restriction targets not only food sold inside schools but also the immediate external environment, aiming to prevent students from easily accessing unhealthy snacks from nearby vendors. To create a more accountable system, the court directed every school to establish a Food Safety and Nutrition Committee within four weeks. These committees will include teachers, parents, and student representatives, with their details to be uploaded on the Education Department's website.