Court Directs Education Secretary to Submit Personal Affidavit on Infrastructure Deficiencies
In a significant move addressing the plight of female students in Chhattisgarh, the High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the appalling condition of toilet facilities in government schools. The court's intervention follows a news report highlighting the absence of separate and functional toilets for girls in over 5,000 schools, with more than 8,000 schools having unusable facilities.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, expressed grave concern over the issue in the matter titled "Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation v. State of Chhattisgarh." The court has directed the Secretary of the School Education Department to file a personal affidavit outlining steps taken to resolve the issue, setting the next hearing for March 23, 2026.
According to the news report published in the Hindi daily Bilaspur Bhoomi, the lack of adequate sanitation facilities has resulted in distress among students and teachers, leading to health issues such as urine infections. The report further revealed that the problem is most acute in districts like Bilaspur, Raipur, Korba, Bastar, and Janjgir-Champa.
The court acknowledged that despite previous directives and rationalization efforts, which included merging schools to optimize resources, the problem persists. The Union Ministry of Education's U-DISE report for 2024-25 indicated that approximately 5,500 schools still lack separate toilets for girls.
The court's order is seen as a critical step towards addressing a significant barrier to education for female students. Many girls reportedly skip school due to embarrassment and health concerns arising from shared or unsanitary toilet facilities. The situation is exacerbated in schools where a single toilet serves both boys and girls, leading to daily discomfort for female students.
In response to the court's directions, the District Education Officer of Bilaspur stated that repairs are underway in schools with dilapidated facilities, and efforts are being made to ensure that all schools have functional washrooms for girl students soon.
This judicial intervention underscores the urgent need for remedial measures to improve school infrastructure, ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment for all students, particularly girls. The court's proactive stance aims to hold the concerned authorities accountable and expedite the provision of basic amenities in schools across the state.
Bottom Line:
Public Interest Litigation concerning lack of separate and functional toilets for girls in government schools; court directs Secretary, School Education Department, to file a personal affidavit regarding the issue.
Statutory provision(s): Not explicitly mentioned in the judgment.
