State Informs Karnataka HC That Nearly 70% Text Books Have Been Printed By KTBS, Ensures Complete Distribution By September 15

The status report states that,

"Presently,Textbook printing and supply work is in progress. As on 25-08-2021, the printing progress is 70.82% and supply progress is 54.74%. We have uploaded all the textbooks of classes 1 to 10 in the KTBS official website for the utilization for teachers and students and also action has been taken to strengthen the Book bank in all school levels. The same has been implemented and the direction has been given to utilize the books. As per the direction, the students are utilizing the book bank facility."

It added,

"Karnataka Text Book Society (KTBS) is working out a possible strategy to reach the textbooks by the end of August 2021 and the direction has also been given to the printers. Action has also been taken to follow up the work to reach all the books to the students as per indent before September 15th, 2021."

The High Court by its previous order dated August 24, observed that,

"Asking students to attend schools without providing them textbooks and notebooks is meaningless and purposeless," and had directed the State government to place on record a status report indicating the steps taken to provide textbooks to the students of standards.

Further, the report stated that,

"In the previous years, 140 days time period was allotted to the printing and supply process. But this year, due to covid-19, as lockdown has been imposed throughout the state and with the availability of human resource and organization the tender process has been completed. As per tender clauses, after placing the orders instead of 140 days, this year 100 days time period is fixed to the printers to complete the printing and supply process of textbooks for class 1 to 10. So the probable due date is September 2021."

It is also said that for the year 2020-21, approximately 14,61,210 excess textbooks were stocked at four divisional godowns. Action has been initiated to sell these textbooks through 60 authorized textbook dealers with 15% discount to those who are already registered in Karnataka Textbook Society.

As per the government order, PU classes are reopened on 23-08-2021. As textbooks are already available in the open market, students can afford those textbooks. For further demand, action has been initiated to make the textbooks available to the students as early as possible.

The court was hearing a petition filed by A. A. Sanjeev Narrain, Arvind Narrain and Murali Mohan.

Case Title: A A Sanjeev Narrain v. The State of Karnataka

Case No: WP 11708/2020