The Hindu : New Delhi News : Supreme Court directive to Delhi Govt. on schools

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Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008
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Supreme Court directive to Delhi Govt. on schools

J. Venkatesan

Seeks status report in eight weeks on existing facilities

‘If you improve infrastructure further the result would improve further’
The Bench recorded the submission made by the Director of Education

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi Government to file a status report in eight weeks on the condition of 919 government schools and the infrastructure available for teachers and students.

A Bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice J.M. Panchal gave this direction during the course of hearing of a petition filed by Environment and Consumer Protection Foundation complaining lack of infrastructure facilities in 217 government aided schools.

The Bench in its order said that pursuant to the earlier direction issued in April in respect of aided schools, the government had filed a status report and undoubtedly the condition of drinking water facilities, fire safety equipment, and classroom infrastructure had been improved.

The Bench recorded the submission made by the Director of Education, Chandra Bhushan Kumar, who was present in the court had informed that electronic clearance system would be introduced within a month to credit directly the salaries of the teachers of aided schools in the respective bank accounts. The Director submitted that four years ago the result in aided schools were about 36 per cent and it was 82 per cent this year and in government schools, the result was 85 per cent.

Justice Bhandari told the Director “if you improve infrastructure further the result would improve further.” At this juncture counsel Ravinder Bana submitted that the condition of government schools was still worse and the government should be directed to file a status report.

He said as far as aided schools were concerned the court directions had the desirable effect and the necessary infrastructure facilities had been provided by the government. He said till last year there were 2,328 vacancies of posts of teachers and within a year over 2,000 vacancies was filled. He wanted the court to issue directions to all States to find out the condition of aided and government schools across the country. The Bench however said it would first ask the Director of Education, Delhi to file a report in eight weeks on the condition of government schools and also issued notice to National University of Educational Planning and Administration seeking its response on the condition of schools in the country.

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