SC issues notices on poor hostel conditions for SC/ST students

New Delhi, Oct 24 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre and all states in the country on the ''hopeless condition'' prevailing in over 1,130 hostels for SC/ST students.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam issued notices on the petition filed by ABVP, the student wing of BJP, alleging that the conditions prevailing in hostels spread over 240 districts in various states, were pitiable and even the food served in these hostels was sub-standard.

The counsel for the petitioner had filed the petition on the basis of a survey report for the year 2006-07.

According to the plea, many hostels are situated in forests and are without electricity. The students have to study in candle lights and if these are the conditions in hostels for SC/ST students, their performance in examinations as compared to others is bound to be poorer.

The petitioner organisation has also submitted that though social inequality is visible everywhere in the country, the conditions in SC/ST hostels are a glaring example of this as most of them do not have basic amenities like water, electricity etc.

This is clear cut violation of the Indian Constitution, which declares right to education to be a fundamental right, the organisation alleged.

UNI SC RJ SB CS1620