HC orders MCD Education Director to visit schools after report highlights shortcomings

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) Director of Education to visit five schools being run by the civic authority and file a report stating the remedial steps that would be undertaken to improve their condition. A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan passed the order after a report placed before it highlighted several shortcomings there, which included broken desks and chairs, shortage of teachers, and flooding in classrooms.

The bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, directed the authorities to ensure that students receive their uniforms by August 15 and that chairs and desks are supplied to the schools.

Advocate Ashok Agarwal, appearing for the petitioner NGO Social Jurist, submitted a report in court with respect to his visit to the MCD primary schools in Mangolpuri, Kondali, Kalyanpuri, Karkardooma and Khajoori Chowk, and said they were functioning under poor conditions.

In his report, he said, besides broken furniture, one of schools has tin-shed classrooms, and in as many as 17 MCD Schools, the number of teachers is less than the classrooms.

He also claimed that funds are not being allocated for procurement of furniture due to non-constitution of the MCD Standing Committee, and over 1.37 lakh students in MCD schools were yet to receive uniforms.

The court questioned the MCD counsel over the findings in the report and asked him to streamline the process of school supplies to the children.

"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 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," it further said.

The MCD counsel assured the court that desks would be supplied and the issue of non-supply of uniforms would also be resolved.

The court passed the order while dealing with a PIL by Social Jurist seeking directions to the Delhi government and MCD to ensure that all students studying in their schools have operational bank accounts for transfer for statutory financial benefits.

The matter would be heard next on September 12.