Haryana Human Rights Commission takes cognisance of 27 'unsafe' schools in Hisar

Taking suo motu cognisance of news regarding the unsafe conditions in several government schools of Hisar district, the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has asked the Deputy Commissioner to submit a report to the commission within eight weeks.

A Full Bench of the commission comprising Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia observed that this was not merely a case of discomfort or inconvenience but a serious endangerment to the safety of schoolchildren.

The HHRC has listed the next hearing on October 30.

'The Tribune' had reported on August 7 the poor condition of government schools in Hisar. Though the Public Works Department (PWD) had declared buildings or major portions of 27 government schools “unsafe", classes were being conducted, putting hundreds of students at risk. In many institutions, students were forced to study in open verandahs, sealed rooms, laboratories, and staff halls, often sitting directly on the floor.

The ongoing monsoon has heightened the dangers, adding risks such as snake bites, falling debris, and waterlogging-related hazards.

The commission stressed that such conditions violated Articles 21 and 21A of the Constitution. They also breached obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guaranteed every child the right to safe education.

Referring to recent tragedies in Rajasthan, the commission stated that the death of a seven-year-old boy in Jaisalmer after a school-gate collapse, and the deaths of seven students in Jhalawar following a building collapse, underlined the urgent need for preventive measures in Haryana.

Dr Puneet Arora, Protocol, Information and Public Relations Officer, informed that the commission had directed the Principal Secretary, School Education Department; Director General, Secondary Education; Deputy Commissioner, Hisar; Additional Deputy Commissioner, Hisar; and District Education Officer, Hisar, to submit a report within eight weeks.

The commission has sought details of the present status of each unsafe building, safety measures currently in place, alternative arrangements for affected students, timeline and budget for reconstruction, number of students impacted, any injury or illness data and the reasons for delay in repair or relocation.