After Viral Video Of Girl Students Vandalising Education Dept Official's Car, PIL Filed In Patna High Court Highlighting Deplorable Conditions Of Government Schools

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Patna High Court, highlighting the alleged deplorable conditions of various Government schools in Bihar. The PIL seeks directions to the Bihar Government to reconstruct the deteriorated school buildings and to ensure provision for basic facilities and amenities in these Government schools. Additionally, the PIL advocates for the implementation of sanitary napkin facilities for girls.

The PIL has been filed in the wake of a recent viral video of female students of a government school in the Vaishali District of Bihar damaging the vehicle of an official of the Education Department of the state, in protest against alleged inaction on the deplorable condition of the school.

In the PIL filed by Social Jurist, a civil rights group represented by Advocate Ashok Agarwal, it has been contended that during visits conducted by the petitioner's organization to various Government schools, it was observed that these schools are deficient in essential facilities and amenities. PIL states that these deficiencies encompass the absence of proper toilets, adequate classrooms, qualified teachers, and appropriate teaching resources.

The petitioner has submitted that the conditions of the schools are so dire that they pose a danger to the life and liberty of both teachers and students. "Parents sending their wards to these schools were found agitated about the dismal conditions of the schools despite the fact that they are sending their wards in large numbers to receive education in these schools", reads the PIL.

The petitioner has also emphasized that apart from the deplorable conditions in the schools, there is an absence of any school in Pipra Village, District West Champaran, Bihar. It has been argued that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, is not being adequately implemented in the State of Bihar. Given the dilapidated conditions, it is asserted that this is a blatant violation of the provisions of the Right to Education Act.

"The lack of amenities in these government schools are the reason for children to drop out from these schools, especially the girl child and also the status of the government schools will be unable to serve the best interest of the children specifically in female student", reads the PIL.

It has further been stated in this petition that the mentioned schools cannot in any way be compared with various private schools and that this discrepancy violates the Right to Equality. It is also submitted that it is in contradiction to the guidelines provided by the Supreme Court in the case of Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan versus Union of India (2012)6 SCC 1.

The petitioner has sought the following prayers from the High Court: (i) To direct the respondent (Government of Bihar) to effectively implement the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009; (ii) To direct the respondent to ensure an adequate arrangement of teachers for students; (iii) To direct the respondent to promptly reconstruct the dilapidated school buildings in which enrolled students are studying; (iv) To direct the respondent to provide basic facilities and amenities in various government schools across the State of Bihar and (v) To direct the respondent to strictly adhere to the guidelines established by the Supreme Court.

Cause Title: Social Jurist v. State of Bihar & Ors.