Kaithal school classes in shifts, HC surprised

Saurabh Malik

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 30

A school in Kaithal district has opened a new chapter of holding classes in shifts following demolition of dilapidated classrooms. Expressing surprise, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Haryana Secretary (Education) to look into the matter.

He has been asked to personally hear the principal on the school requirements and promptly providing these “within the shortest time possible so that children are housed and study comfortably in the school”.

The order came after Justice Rajiv Narain Raina’s Bench was told by school principal Harbir Singh that 15 dilapidated rooms were demolished, but only five were raised. “I have heard the parties on the lack of facilities in the school that requires immediate attention.

The court is surprised to hear from the principal that students are being taught in shifts,” Justice Raina said.

The matter was brought to the HC’s notice after Amarjeet and other students filed a petition against Haryana and other respondents. Counsel Pardeep Kumar Rapria told the Bench that the petitioner-students were studying in government co-educational school at Balu village in Kalayat tehsil, Kaithal district.

He said the petitioner-students were aggrieved not only because the schoolbuilding was in a dilapidated condition, but also due to lack of drinking water facility and toilets. Besides, most posts of teachers in the school were vacant.

The Bench, on the initial date of hearing, asked the respondents to disclose in their reply, by way of an affidavit by the Secretary, Department of Education, on the number of vacancies in all government schools across the state and “in how many schools, facilitates of drinking water and toilet are still not provided”.

Haryana, on a subsequent date of hearing, submitted that Rs 20,00,000 was released for construction of boundary walls, five classrooms, toilets and drinking water after the court notice. Rapria submitted that the petitioners’ concern was also about shortage of teachers, suggesting that a direction be issued to the DC and school principal to ensure that the amount released was used forthwith on construction.