Karnataka High Court Calls Upon NLSIU To Assist In Preparing Road Map For Providing Better Infrastructure In Govt Schools Across State

A division bench of Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar said "Prima facie we are not satisfied with the action plan submitted by the state and hence for the purpose of assistance in this matter and also to gather the true and correct picture as well as ground reality prevailing in respect of infrastructure in govt and aided schools in state, we think it just and proper to hear a few persons/entities involved in the field of education of children in government and aided schools."

It added "Hence we issue notice to Center for Child and the Law (NLSIU Bengaluru) and to Dr V P Niranjanaradhya, Senior fellow CCL NLSIU, so as to assist this court in this case in order to prepare a road map for providing infrastructure in the government/aided schools throughout the state bearing in mind the funds available and other factors."

In the previous hearing the state government had informed the court that a sum of Rs. 88 crore was allotted for infrastructure in the year 2020-21 and amount of Rs. 100 crore has been allotted in the year 2021-22 for school infrastructure.

The court while hearing the petition filed by Anti-Corruption Council of India highlighting the lack of infrastructure in government and aided schools in the state, had directed the state government to place on record a plan of action for spending the Rs. 100 crore.

In response, the state informed the court that it intends to spend the sum at the rate of 2 crore each on schools for 50 Karnataka Public schools, for providing infrastructure which would be released in four installments of Rs. 25 crore each.

During the hearing the court orally observed "We are going nowhere in this case, except you (state) filing reports etc which is of no help. Let us get their (NGO's) view point, they are the persons working in the field, what they have in mind, let us get that, then we will issue directions, we may possibly issue directions for constituting a committee to go into for improvement of school infrastructure in the state."

Justice Sanjeevkumar said "After sunset illegal activities are happening in the government school in taluks. This is my first hand information, many schools have become public toilets for villagers. In Government schools illegal activities are happening and nobody is looking after them. Only those who are downtrodden are preferring government schools and that is creating a huge gap."

The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on July 22.