HC flays govt for lack of facilities at schools

Responds over a mother’s plight at having lost her only son due to non-provision of water and toilets at his school

• High Court issues notice to Principal Secretary (Social Welfare) to file an affidavit

• Seeks to know steps taken to provide water, toilets etc at all social welfare schools in the State

The incident involving the death of a 10th class student, who was obviously forced, along with all the inmates of the said social welfare residential school, to go in search of water for attending nature’s call, shocks the judicial conscience of the Court- Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy

Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy of the AP High Court on Tuesday voiced serious concern over the manner in which the State government was acting over lack of basic amenities in Social Welfare Schools in the State.

The judge said: “The incident involving the death of a 10th class student, who was obviously forced, along with all the inmates of the said social welfare residential school, to go in search of water for attending nature calls, shocks the judicial conscience of the Court."

The judge directed Principal Secretary (Social Welfare) to file an affidavit, explaining the reasons for the apathy displayed towards the residential schools, and to state whether any action was initiated against the persons responsible for not making water available to the hostel concerned. The judge was dealing with a writ petition filed by Ramakrishnamma, a daily wage labourer, whose son studying in Class 10 at the social welfare residential school at Madanapuram village in Mahabubnagar district died under tragic circumstances recently.

The petitioner sought an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh, government job and three acres land in her native place for the death of her only son due to dereliction of duty of government servants.

She contended that her son, D Prasad, died due to lack of basic amenities in the said school. She said that her son was forced to go in search of water for attending nature calls, but had fallen in a ditch where pipeline works were going on.

An FIR was registered at Kothakota police station. No ex gratia amount was paid, though the District Collector had recommended sanction of an amount of Rs 5 lakh, she informed the court.

The judge further directed the Principal Secretary to enumerate the steps the government had taken to ensure basic amenities such as water and toilets at all social welfare residential schools. Besides, the affidavit should also spell out the policy of the State government on payment of ex gratia to the families of students who die in such accidents.