Bombay High Court Asks State To File Affidavit On Steps Taken To Provide Facilities And Safety To Students Of Ashram Schools

The Court issued the directions in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the conditions in the ashram schools in Maharashtra. The PIL filed by Ravindra Talpe said that the ashram schools lack basic facilities and safety, including lack of drinking water, hygienic food and toilets. The PIL alleged that the lack of facilities and safety measures in these schools caused the death of many students.

Earlier, the Court had directed the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, to make a report about the deficiencies in the safety and security of these schools and provide recommendations to improve the conditions.

Today, a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, asked the State to file an affidavit, giving details of the gap which remains to be filled between the recommendations made by TISS and steps taken by it.

The CJ expressed his dismay at the conditions in these schools. Speaking to the State counsel, he orally remarked, “Have you ever visited such institutions? Please go to one such institution and see the plight of inmates…you have given them the name of ashram school and see their plight…there is a problem of their assimilation in society, there is problem of their education, clothing…go to some ashram school and then you will be in a better position to impress upon the secretary of the department..”

Case title: Ravindra Umakant Talpe And Anr Vs The State Of Maharashtra And Anr (CRPIL/69/2013)