HC seeks status report on Punjab govt schools

The Punjab and Haryana high court has granted two weeks to the Punjab government for submitting complete status report on all government schools being run from unsafe buildings.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has granted two weeks to the Punjab government for submitting complete status report on all government schools being run from unsafe buildings.

The division bench comprising acting chief justice Jasbir Singh and justice Rakesh Kumar Jain issued the directions on a public interest litigation filed by advocate HC Arora.

The petitioner has sought directions to shift students from five unsafe government school buildings in Ludhiana district to other schools. These buildings are housing four government primary schools - Khanna-3, Khanna-5, Jallah and model gram (Ludhiana) - and government high school, Kasabad.
However, Ranjit Singh, district education officer (elementary), Ludhiana, filed an affidavit in the court, stating that unsafe buildings had been repaired or unsafe rooms locked and not being used.

He also stated that orders were being issued separately for dismantling the unsafe rooms and thus there was no need now to shift students to alternative schools. The court was also informed that the construction of new classrooms would soon be started.

The case would now come up for hearing on May 8.