When will Delhi-govt shift students from 99-year-old school-building, asks HC
What's the story
The Delhi HC has asked the AAP government by when it can shift students from one of its schools, the 99-year-old building of which is dilapidated.
The HC said it was concerned about the children's safety.
Delhi government was asked to file a status report indicating when the students would be accommodated in other schools and the time frame for repairing/reconstructing the building.
Information
Building should not be used for other purposes: HC
The Delhi HC, however, made it clear that the structure in question should not be used for anything else in its present condition as it could cave in any time, according to an affidavit submitted by the Delhi government.
Details
HC's directions came on a PIL by NGO Social Jurist
The directions from the Delhi HC bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice VK Rao came on a PIL by NGO Social Jurist.
The NGO has alleged that the Rajputana Rifles Heroes Memorial Senior Secondary School in Delhi Cantonment, taken over by the Delhi government in 1975 and getting 100% aid from it, was in a horrible condition.
Information
The 1919 school has outlived its useful life: DoE
The Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi government had earlier told the court that a joint inspection of the building revealed that it was constructed in 1919 and has outlived its useful life and was unsuitable for habitation.
The school
About 450 students are currently studying in the school
Advocate Ashok Agarwal, appearing for the NGO, earlier said around 450 students are studying in the school and they have been unjustly deprived of adequate physical infrastructure and academic faculty.
The plea said though the school is open for all, it mainly caters to the children of servants of military officials who aren't in a position to educate their kids in private schools.
The Plea
Plea seeks directions for rebuilding school as a state-of-art school
The plea has also alleged that the school lacks basic amenities, including potable drinking water, functional toilets, science and computer labs, clean classrooms, and proper boundary wall adding that several posts of teaching staff are lying vacant.
The petition has sought direction that the existing building of the school be demolished and rebuilt as a state-of-the-art school.