The Delhi High Court has expressed dissatisfaction with the Delhi government’s Education department regarding the lack of infrastructure and essential facilities in government schools located in the Northeast district. Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, presiding over a division bench, took note of a report submitted by advocate Ashok Agarwal, representing petitioner NGO ‘Social Jurist, A Civil Rights Group’, who had been instructed by the bench to assess the condition of schools in the district.
The schools under scrutiny include GGSSS Khajoori Khas, GGSSS East Gokal Pur, SKV C-1 Yamuna Vihar, SKV Khajoori Khas, GGSSS Sonia Vihar, SKV Sriram Colony Khajoori Khas, GGSSS Bhajanpura, GGSSS Dayalpur, GGSSS Sabhapur, and SKV Khader Badarpur.
Expressing their dismay, the bench ordered the Secretary of Education to take immediate steps to significantly improve the situation within a specified timeframe. The Secretary assured the court that there is no shortage of funds and committed to providing textbooks, furniture, and writing material to all students. The court directed the Secretary to file a detailed affidavit within a week, fixing responsibility on officials who failed in their duties. The next hearing is scheduled for April 23.
Advocate Agarwal highlighted examples of deficiencies in infrastructure, such as broken desks and inadequate classrooms, citing specific instances at GGSSS Bhajanpura and SKV C-1 Block Yamuna Vihar.
The Secretary of Education, present in court, acknowledged the reported deficiencies and attributed them to space constraints in densely populated areas. He assured that construction of schools would commence once land is allocated.
Expressing concern, the bench emphasized the need for regular repair and maintenance of school furniture and called for accountability from senior officials. It stressed the importance of providing basic facilities to maintain students’ interest in attending school and requested a timeline for addressing the shortcomings outlined in the report.
The court’s observations underscore a critical need for immediate action to address the alarming state of government schools in the Northeast district of Delhi.
