Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to notify detailed guidelines on snakebite management and basic healthcare in schools, while disposing of a writ petition linked to the 2019 incident in which a student died of a snakebite.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen instructed the government to issue a circular within two weeks, based on the recommendations finalised at a high-level meeting on September 1, 2025. The guidelines aim to ensure both preventive and emergency measures in educational institutions across the state.

The court ordered the guidelines to be published in English and Malayalam on the government’s website, with dedicated email IDs for public feedback. It also emphasised that the roles and responsibilities of departments and agencies must be clearly defined, cautioning against placing obligations on schools that lie within the government’s domain.

“The entire responsibility cannot be placed on schools to perform tasks beyond their capacity, such as ensuring the availability of anti-venom. That is the duty of the concerned departments,” the bench observed.

The working group formed on September 1 will continue as a Joint Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary until a permanent monitoring framework is established. This committee will oversee compliance, update guidelines, and develop a standard operating procedure for reporting. It has been directed to meet at least twice a year and may collaborate with the Kerala State Legal Services Authority and relevant NGOs. Nodal officers at the state and district levels will be appointed to collect and present data.

The court further instructed the government to accelerate research and development of anti-venom vaccines in coordination with expert agencies. It also asked the State to take steps within two months to include snakebite as a notifiable disease under the Kerala Public Health Act, in line with directions from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
With these directions, the Court disposed of the petition.
(With LiveLaw inputs)

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