The Karnataka government which had planned to ban the sale of mobile phones to children below the age of 16 has reconsidered its decision. Karnataka State Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti said that it would be difficult to implement this rule.

As of now, the government has just decided to ban the use of mobile phones in schools and pre-university colleges across the state. The decision comes in the wake of a study which pointed out health hazards caused due to radiation emitted from mobile phones especially among children.

The minister said that the ban will be in effect from October 5 onwards. He said that if any student was found using cell phones in the college or schools the headmaster/principal would be held responsible for the same.

He also said that the headmasters/principals will be empowered to seize he cell phones from the students.

Stating that a survey had also shown that 30 to 40 per cent of the students were using cell phones, the minister said that the government was under pressure from cell phone companies not to implement the rule.

The minister said that it did not buckle under pressure and decided to go ahead with the rule instead in the interest of the students.