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Allahabad High Court directs Politicians and Government Officials to enroll their children’s in Government run schools

“In case of non-compliance of the order, fine or penalty on government employees who send their children to private schools”

By TwoCircles.net, Staff Correspondent

Allahabad (UP) : In a significant move by the Allahabad High Court, the children’s of bureaucrats and politicians of Uttar Pradesh may be seen admitted in Government run schools from next Academic Session. Activists have welcomed this decision.

The Allahabad High Court while taking a serious note on the pathetic condition of government schools in Uttar Pradesh, directed the Chief Secretary to ensure that the wards of Government Servants, those serving in the local bodies and judiciary, representatives of people to send their wards in the government-run schools.

Allahabad High Court (Courtesy: indianjobnews)

In the historic Judgment, while hearing a writ petition filed by Umesh Kumar Singh and several others regarding the appointment of assistant teachers in state’s primary schools, the single bench of Justice Sudhir Agarwal directed the Chief Secretary to take steps within six months so that court’s order can be implemented from the next academic session of primary schools.

“Only then would they be serious enough to look into the requirements of these schools and ensure that they are run in good condition,” the court observed.

During the course of hearing, the court noticed the deplorable condition of these schools and observed that although they are catering to the needs of 90% population of children, their condition could be described as “shabby.”

The court while sending a strong message observed that state government may make provisions to impose fine or penalty on government employees who send their children to private schools instead of government schools so as to discourage them. The money collected shall be used for the betterment of government schools.

“If any government servant continues to send his/her child to private school, he will have to deposit the same amount of fees in the state exchequer every month. Besides, the increment and promotion of such officers may also be stopped from a limited period of time. The state government is being given six months’ time to work out the modalities so that this order can be implemented from the next academic session,” remarked Justice Sudhir Agarwal

The move has been hailed by many Social activists, Non-Government Organizations, Educationalists, Civil Society organizations besides netizens across the Country and voices have started rising up in different states to improve the appalling conditions of Government run schools in their respective states.

“The education system prevalent in government schools of Uttar Pradesh is very poor where even a student of fifth class isn’t able to read or write the basic things taught in kindergarten. The Allahabad High Court order will rejuvenate new blood into the government schools as it will lead to improvement in quality of education besides infrastructure and exposure to the students belonging to the weaker sections of the society. We are hopeful that Chief Secretary implements the court directive with letter and spirit,” said Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh, Chairman, Farzana Rashid Memorial trust, a Lucknow-based organization which works in the area of education of children’s of weaker sections of society.

Meanwhile, Right to Education Forum Gujarat, while welcoming the High Court directive termed it as a move aimed to the path of discussion on Common School System which was suggested by Kothari Commission

“We believes that this order make a path of discussion (Common School System) which suggested by Kothari Commission on March31, 2015 only 10% of the schools were compliant with all the norms and standards of the RTE Act, 2009; and now, after nearly 5 years, the Act continues to default on all the deadlines set by Parliament. The children who would be most affected by the delay in implementation of the RTE Act are children of the marginalized sections, especially the SC, ST, Muslims, OBC, girls and children with disabilities; migrant children, displaced children, children in urban poor and children in conflict affected area’s,” said RTE Forum in a statement.

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