Bombay HC Takes Cognizance Over Children Rowing Thermocol Shafts With Bamboo Sticks To Fend Off Snakes In Dam To Attend School
The Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench recently took suo moto cognizance over a news article on the plight of children, ‘making a daring journey’ to attend their school, where they sit on a thick thermocol sheet and use makeshift oars to cross the kilometre-long stretch of the backwaters of Jaikwadi, one of Maharashtra's largest dams. The children travelling across the backwaters, carry bamboo sticks with them to fend off venomous snakes in the dam.
The news article titled, "Kids row thermocol rafts with makeshift oars to cross Jayakwadi backwaters, attend school", was published in Sunday Times (Times of India), Aurangabad Edition dated August 27, 2023. As per the news item, the situation has remained the same for 47 years ever since the dam was made.
A bench of Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Y. G. Khobragade heard the matter.
Accordingly, the Bench appointed Advocate Pushkar Shendurnikar to prepare a PIL petition in view of the Bombay High Court PIL Rules, 2010 and present the same on September 4, 2023 in the Court.
The news item mentioned a girl, barely 11 years old, who makes a daring journey, every day, across the backwaters of Jaikwadi.
It is pertinent to note that as per the news item she is not alone, as there are 15 children from the Bhiw Dhanora village of Aurangabad district.
The father of the girl told that Times of India that "I do not want my children to remain illiterate like me. So my daughter and son travel on the thermocol sheet to go to school. It becomes daunting due to the presence of venomous snakes in the water”.
Resultantly, noting the seriousness of the matter and the urgency it required, the bench converted the said news item in a Suo Motu PIL.
Cause Title: Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation Stamp No.27392 Of 2023
