Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Jaipur, October 15 (IANS) The Rajasthan High Court has come down heavily on the state government over the poor condition of school infrastructure across the state.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the tragic incident of death of students when a school building collapsed in Jhalawar, the court emphasized that action should go beyond paperwork and reflect visible reforms on the ground.
A division bench of Justice Mahendra Goel and Justice Ashok Kumar Jain asked about the adequacy of the funds allocated for repairing the school, while questioning how the repairs would be done for Rs 5 lakh.
Advocate general, Rajendra Prasad, filed an affidavit stating that Rs 5 lakh has been earmarked for repairing the most dilapidated schools, and the work is expected to be completed by March 2026. Repairs in other schools will be completed by November 2026.
Questioning the move, the bench said, “How can repairs be done for Rs 5 lakh? Lakhs of rupees are spent just on whitewashing. It seems the budget was allocated without any prior inspection.”
In response, the Advocate General said that the government is ready to increase the budget if needed. He also said that 11.46 per cent of the total school education budget was sanctioned for improving infrastructure.
Dissatisfied with the existing inspection mechanism, the High Court, citing recurring issues arising from contractor negligence, directed that the repair work should be inspected by an independent agency instead of the Public Works Department (PWD).
The court asked all parties involved to submit names of possible independent bodies for this task and reiterated the need for impartial monitoring.
The bench further remarked, “You talk about work, but nothing is visible on the ground. Even today students are studying under tin sheds.”
Highlighting the need for a systematic approach, the court directed that schools in all districts be classified based on their condition to ensure that the repair work is carried out on priority and in a structured manner.
The bench directed the state government to submit a comprehensive action plan including timeline, budget and monitoring mechanism by October 31.
The Advocate General informed the court that additional funds are expected from the Central Government in November and requested time to present the complete roadmap.
The matter will be heard again on October 31, with the court saying it will continue to closely monitor the situation while keeping the safety of students as its top priority.
–IANS
arc/and