{
  "id": 3282776,
  "title": "Rajasthan High Court Bans Junk Food Sales Within 50 Metres Of Schools, Orders Nutrition Monitoring",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/rajasthan-high-court-bans-junk-food-sales-within-50-metres-of-schools",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T14:07:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/rajasthan-high-court-bans-junk-food-sales-within-50-metres-of-schools-orders-nutrition-monitoring"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Rajasthan High Court has issued a comprehensive directive to ban the sale of junk food within a 50-meter radius of schools across the state. The court's concern lies in safeguarding the health of future generations, specifically Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha students as well as the upcoming Gen-Beta cohort. The court ordered a strict monitoring system for mid-day meals and nutrition, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The ban applies to carbonated drinks, chips, bakery products with trans fat, and other high-fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) foods. District magistrates, block education officers, and food safety committees in each school are tasked with ensuring compliance. The state government must submit an affidavit detailing their steps towards implementing relevant regulations within six weeks. The court also ordered the formation of food safety committees comprising parents, teachers, and student representatives in each school, and a dedicated portal and helpline for complaints related to food safety violations. The court expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of rural schools, lacking infrastructure, training, medical facilities, washrooms, and modern technology. While acknowledging the importance of technology in education, the court cautioned against its replacement of basic learning skills such as handwriting, reading, and note-taking. Additionally, the court has directed a thorough examination of rural schools for vacant teaching positions and the provision of essential facilities like smart classes, computers, internet access, health checkups, toilets, drinking water, and sports facilities. The court also expressed concerns over paper leaks, which negatively impact students' mental health, academic schedules, and public confidence in the examination system. The court called for a foolproof mechanism to prevent such leaks and directed the preparation of a comprehensive plan to address the challenges faced by Gen-Z students, including issues related to education-employment gaps, social security for gig workers, affordable hostels and housing, digital detox programs, data privacy, and cybersecurity.",
  "summary": "Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court, expressing concern for the future and health of the country's future generation, has ordered a complete ban on junk food within a 50-meter radius of Rajasthan's schools. Taking suo motu cognizance and issuing notices to central and state government departments, the court has directed for strict monitoring of mid-day meals and adequate nutrition as per World…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}