The Delhi High Court strongly rebuked the city's education department for the dire condition of government schools in the north-east district, emphasizing the need for accountability among officials. Read below
The Delhi High Court strongly rebuked the city's education department for the dire condition of government schools in the north-east district, emphasizing the need for accountability among officials. Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, alongside Justice Manmeet P S Arora, criticized the department after lawyer Ashok Agarwal presented a damning report revealing numerous deficiencies such as broken furniture, classroom shortages, and a lack of essential materials.
In response to the court's scrutiny, the education secretary, who had previously inspected the schools, acknowledged the findings and pledged swift action to rectify the situation. The bench emphasized that officials should proactively address issues rather than merely making superficial announcements. It highlighted overcrowded classrooms, with up to 144 children in one room, as a particularly distressing aspect of the situation.
The court expressed concern over the lack of oversight and accountability, suggesting that the disconnect between officials and the reality of school conditions contributed to the apathy among students. Justice Manmohan underscored the importance of senior officials taking a more active role in monitoring and improving school conditions to ensure a better future for the next generation.
The education secretary assured the court that resources were available to address the deficiencies, including providing necessary materials and relocating students from temporary structures to more suitable buildings. The court ordered the secretary to file a detailed affidavit assigning responsibility to negligent officials and scheduled a follow-up hearing on April 23. The case stemmed from a public interest litigation filed by NGO Social Jurist, represented by Agarwal.
