‘Apathy’ Towards Schools: Court Criticizes State After Building Collapses

In an attempt to exercise judicial activism in the cause of public safety, the Rajasthan High Court has issued a suo motu contempt notice to the Chief Secretary of the Bikaner district and others in connection with collapse of a government school building in Bikaner district. Deeply concerned with the possible threat to the lives of both students and members of staff the court has started up an action to hold the state government responsible of the shoddy state of its schools and seek an urgent remedy to ensure the safety of the children.

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Facts of the Case

The case refers to the tragedy of the Government Upper Primary School structure collapsing in the Himmatsar village of Bikaner district after the recent heavy rains. The case, which happened on a day when the school was not open, did not, fortunately, lead to loss of any life. Nevertheless, it revealed that the buildings housing schools were in an unsafe and unstable state of affairs forcing the High Court to act independently in remedying the situation of abused school infrastructures statewide.

Observations and Directions by the Court

A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Bhuwan Goyal took a serious view of the matter lamenting on the apathy that the state government has regarding the maintenance of school infrastructure as this could have easily led to a major tragedy. The High Court, in its order, issued a series of important mandates which included that, the state will release a comprehensive report about the current state of all government school buildings in Rajasthan. The government should also give details on the action plan it has or will place in response to repair, reconstruction or demolition of dangerous buildings identified. Further, the court directed the state to put alternative arrangements in place without delay to take care of the students of the collapsed school in Himmatsar so as to not disturb their education. The court has set the following hearing on September 25, during which the government is supposed to comply with these orders.