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| DB issues directives in PIL regarding infrastructure facilities in Schools | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 13: In a Public Interest Litigation pertains to improvement of infrastructure facilities in respect of Primary and Secondary Schools in urban and rural areas of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh as well as for proper maintenance of students-teachers ratio in these schools, A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Comprising Chief Justice (Acting) Tashi Rabstan and Justice Puneet Gupta, directed Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, Jammu to file the latest action taken report in terms of order dated 18.12.2023 well before the next date of hearing.
When the PIL came-up for hearing, DB observed that vide order dated 26.07.2023, Vishal Sharma, DSGI, appearing for the Union Territory of Ladakh, was directed to file an affidavit indicating the steps taken for improvement of schools in respect of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
In compliance to the said direction, Director School Education, Ladakh filed an affidavit on 24.11.2023 highlighting the major steps taken for improvement of Schools in respect of School Education Department, UT of Ladakh from 2020-21 up to 31.07.2023. In the said affidavit it has been deposed that for drinking water facility for Classes IX & X, 8 works were sanctioned in the financial year 2021-22, out of which only 2 stands completed and the remaining 6 has not yet taken up. For girls toilets for Classes IX & X, 2 works were sanctioned, out of which one stands completed and the remaining one has not yet taken up. Similarly, for boundary walls of schools, 195 works were sanctioned for the financial year 2022-23, out of which only 9 stands completed, whereas 90 are under progress and 96 have not yet taken up. As regards dilapidated buildings, one work was sanctioned and the same is under progress.
DB observed that "Strange enough that many of the works sanctioned during the financial year 2021-22 and 2022-23, more particularly the toilet and drinking water facilities for girls students, have not yet taken up".
DB directed Director School Education, Ladakh to file fresh affidavit indicating the number of works completed as on today, how many are under progress and how many have not yet been started. While filing the affidavit, Director School Education, Ladakh shall also taken into consideration the directions passed in paragraph-9 of order dated 26.07.2023.
DB further observed that this Court vide order dated 18.12.2013 had requested the Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, Jammu to examine the issue relating to the hygiene of the girls students and other issues be also given priority. On the said date the Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department also assured the Court that he would personally monitor these activities so that the grievances are addressed to the satisfaction of the concerned. He also assured that by the end of this financial year most of the issues would be resolved.
DB directed Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, Jammu to file the latest action taken report in terms of order dated 18.12.2023 well before the next date of hearing. Commissioner/Secretary to also convene a virtual meeting in terms of the said order and apprise the Court on the next date with regard to the outcome of said meeting and the action taken thereon. —JNF |
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