MADURAI
A public interest litigation petition was filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday seeking better infrastructure facilities at Government Higher Secondary School in Ayyankottai near here.
The petitioner, B. Karthee, said there was a need for adequate classrooms and a science laboratory, along with basic facilities like toilets, drinking water and furniture, in the school. He claimed that there were only five classrooms, on account of which students were made to sit in the open.
The school lacked furniture and blackboards. Also the boys toilet was not functional, the petitioner said, adding without a compound wall, people wandered into the campus and this distracted the students. During nights, antisocial elements trespassed into the campus.
As per The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, at least one classroom per teacher, separate toilet facilities for boys and girls, safe and adequate drinking water facility, kitchen for mid-day meal, library and sports equipment should be provided to the students, contended the petitioner.
A division bench of Justices M. Venugopal and Abdul Quddhose, hearing the petition, issued notice and directed the respondents – Principal Secretary, School Education; Madurai Collector and Chief Educational Officer – to file their counter.