The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a directive to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) Director of Education, ordering them to visit five schools under the civic authority’s management and submit a report detailing the remedial steps planned to address their poor conditions. This order was issued by a bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, following the presentation of a report that highlighted various shortcomings in these schools. The report detailed concerns such as broken desks and chairs, a shortage of teachers, and instances of flooding within classrooms.
The bench, which also included Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, issued instructions to the authorities to ensure that students receive their uniforms by August 15th and that chairs and desks are provided to the schools. Advocate Ashok Agarwal, representing the petitioner NGO Social Jurist, presented a report to the court based on his visit to MCD primary schools in Mangolpuri, Kondali, Kalyanpuri, Karkardooma, and Khajoori Chowk. He reported that these schools were operating in deplorable conditions.
His report revealed that, in addition to broken furniture, one of the schools had tin-shed classrooms, and a significant number, 17 MCD schools, were facing a shortage of teachers, with fewer teachers than classrooms. Agarwal further alleged that funds were not being allocated for furniture procurement due to the non-constitution of the MCD Standing Committee, and over 1.37 lakh students in MCD schools were yet to receive their uniforms.
The court questioned the MCD counsel regarding the findings presented in the report and urged them to streamline the process of providing school supplies to the children. The court issued a specific order stating, “MCD is directed to ensure that either the uniform or cash is transferred into the account of 1.37 lakh students as expeditiously as possible but not later than August 15.”
The court further directed, “This court directs Director of Education, MCD to visit the five schools and file a status report with remedial steps he intends to take. The Director Education is directed to ensure that desk and chairs are supplied to students at the earliest.”
The MCD counsel assured the court that desks would be supplied and the issue of non-supply of uniforms would be resolved. This order was issued by the court while handling a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Social Jurist seeking directions for the Delhi government and MCD to ensure that all students studying in their schools have operational bank accounts for the transfer of statutory financial benefits. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on September 12th.
