High Court Appreciates Delhi Govt's DoE For Distributing Textbooks In All Govt Schools

The Delhi High Court on Thursday appreciated the Delhi Government's Directorate of Education for complete distribution of textbooks in all the government schools in the national capital.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was informed by Delhi Government's counsel, Santosh Kumar Tripathi, that textbooks have been distributed in all government schools.

“Very good…It shows that when there is a will, there is a way,” the court observed orally.

Tripathi, on instructions from the Delhi Government's Director Education In Charge, told the court that there has been complete distribution of textbooks in all the government schools.

“This court puts on record its appreciation for the work done by the Directorate of Education,” the court said.

Furthermore, on the process of decongestion in the schools, Tripathi told court that the compliances mentioned in the earlier status reports will be complied with.

Accordingly, the court closed the PIL filed by NGO Social Jurist, arguing that students in the MCD schools are being deprived of statutory benefits like uniform, writing material, notebooks etc.

The plea sought a direction upon the MCD to ensure that all the students have operational bank accounts and that benefits be provided to them through bearer cheques till these accounts are opened.

Previously, the court had said that the decision of Arvind Kejriwal to continue to hold the position of Chief Minister despite his arrest is his “personal decision” but his non-availability cannot come in the way of young children studying in MCD schools from receiving their free text books, writing material and uniform forthwith.

The court was earlier informed by the MCD Commissioner that only the standing committee has the power to award contracts worth more than Rs. 5 crores. The bench had then said there cannot be a vaccum and if the standing committee is not formed due to any reason, the financial power needs to be delegated to an appropriate authority by the Delhi Government.

Last week, the Delhi Government told court that delegation of power can be done only with the consent of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is presently in judicial custody. This was on instructions from Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.

The bench had then rapped the Delhi Government over stalling of projects and non-supply of books and uniforms to children, observing that the government is just interested in appropriation of power and nothing is working at the ground level.

Earlier, the MCD Commissioner told court that over 2 lakhs students studying in the school administered by the civic body do not have bank accounts and are neither been distributed notebooks nor receiving cash reimbursement for uniforms, school bags and stationary.

The bench had then said that the students going to school and promoted to new class without books and uniforms would loose interest, which will have harmful affects on them.

Title: Social Jurist v. Gnctd & Ors.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 747