Do not open schools without basic amenities: HC

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi Government not to open any government school without providing basic amenities such as concrete buildings, urinals, potable water and hygienic atmosphere.

A division bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Kailash Gambhir said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) would not open any school in the capital without providing basic amenities to the students.

While hearing a PIL by Advocate Ashok Agrawal, the Court also directed the authorities not to admit any student without an affidavit by the parents if they fail to produce the brith certificate of their wards.

A simple declaration by the parents might lead to the admission of wards of illegal migrants from Bangladesh, observed the Court.

The Director of Schools (Primary Education) of the Delhi Government, who was personally present in the court, submitted that concrete buildings of at least 45 schools were under construction and might take another two years for shifting the students from tents.

The Court asked the Director to specify in affidavit by October 11, the next date of hearing, the time it would take to complete the construction of the school buildings.

The Director submitted that NGOs had been roped in to improve the conditions of the schools in their locality.

The Government was initiating action to provide water coolers in all the schools, said the Director.

The Court took strong exception to the reports and photographs in a newspaper stating cows in side class room.

''Why make a mockery of the education without providing basic amenities to the children,'' observed the Court.

UNI PAT AK RAI1956