HC raps Punjab Education Dept over ‘sorry state’ of government schools

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has rapped the Punjab Education Department for the deplorable condition of government schools across the state, observing that senior officers appear “completely oblivious” to the situation.

The court said it was “extremely pained” to note that several schools were functioning without teachers, principals, toilets and other basic amenities, and directed the Secretary, Education, to file a personal affidavit giving school-wise details of deficiencies in infrastructure and staff across all Government Middle Schools in the state. The matter is coming up for further consideration on October 14 before Justice Deepinder Singh Nalwa’s Bench.

The observations by Justice NS Shekhawat came during the hearing of a petition filed by a Hindi teacher from Government Middle School, Tapiala, Amritsar. The petitioner, represented by counsel Sunny Singla, was seeking quashing of the authorities’ action for not relieving him from his present posting despite a transfer order dated August 31, 2024. During the hearing, it emerged that the petitioner was the only teacher available in the school, leading the Bench to take note of the dismal conditions prevailing there.

Justice Shekhawat observed only one room was available for three classes — VI to VIII — at Government Middle School, Tapiala, and there were just two toilets for students without any separate facility for teachers.

The Bench added: “Shockingly” the school has no Headmaster or other staff member, and its charge has been given to the principal of another Government Girls Senior Secondary School, who is already holding an additional charge of yet another school at Beas, Amritsar. The Bench observed that the conditions exemplified the “sorry state of affairs in government schools in Punjab.”

The court noted that only nine students had been admitted this year since only one teacher was available and the infrastructure was almost non-existent. Most of the students probably belonged to the poorest sections and might be attending the school only for the mid-day meal. It was also informed that a computer teacher visited only twice a week and the school lacked even basic facilities such as a playground, boundary wall, clerk, sweeper, or watchman.

Justice Shekhawat added the State was required to remember that the “destiny of a nation rests with its youths” and that “the personality of a child is developed at the time of basic education during his formative years.” The Bench stressed that education was not a consumer service but a constitutional obligation, and that the State must “strive hard to ensure that quality education is available to all young children without any discrimination on the ground of their economic, social or cultural background.”

Citing Article 21-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to free and compulsory education, Justice Shekhawat observed that compliance must be ensured not only in letter but also in spirit. “Their career should not be left in dolorific conditions with this kind of poor infrastructure,” the Bench observed, holding that a welfare State could not ignore such fundamental rights of its children.

The court directed the Secretary, Department of Education, Punjab, to personally file an affidavit specifying: schools with less than five rooms; those without a regular Headmaster; ones with fewer than five teachers; those lacking separate toilets for boys, girls and staff; schools with less than 50 students and measures to improve enrolment; those without drinking water; and schools without sweepers.

Justice Shekhawat also made it clear that the affidavit was required to specify whether separate funds existed for toilet-cleaning materials and whether napkin vending machines for girl students had been provided.