Allegations of water with uranium
content being supplied to the students of a government school in Mansa
district today surfaced before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Taking up the matter, a Division Bench of the High Court set one-month deadline for the Punjab Director General of School Education (DGSE) to conduct an inquiry into a complaint lodged by sarpanches on this and other issues.
The sarpanches, in their complaint, alleged that the principal of Government GGS Adarsh Senior Secondary School, Sahnewali, had failed to make arrangements for hygienic drinking water for the students. They alleged that the underground water in Sahnewali contained uranium.
The complaint was sent to the DGSE by seven sarpanches of gram panchayats, including Sahnewali, Ghuduwala, Danewala, Jarana Kalan and Maewala. They also alleged usurpation of grants received from the state government for supplying free of cost uniforms, books, mid-day meals and free transport.
The complaint by the sarpanches was brought to the High Court’s notice by Amrik Singh and three other residents of Fatehgarh Sahnewal village. In their petition filed in public interest, they alleged that the DGSE had so far not responded to their complaint sent on May 29 through registered post. They prayed that inquiry be ordered into the conduct of Vinay Kumari, school principal.
The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih directed the DGSE to conduct an inquiry into the complaint within a
month. The Bench further directed the DGSE to take corrective action, if required, after the inquiry.
The directions come at a time when the authorities concerned across the country are under pressure to open a chapter of safety and sanitation for school students. Already, more than 850 students suffered nausea and complained of stomach ache after consuming iron tablets in government schools in several districts of Haryana. Besides, there was a mid-day meal tragedy that left 23 children dead in Bihar recently.
Taking up the matter, a Division Bench of the High Court set one-month deadline for the Punjab Director General of School Education (DGSE) to conduct an inquiry into a complaint lodged by sarpanches on this and other issues.
The sarpanches, in their complaint, alleged that the principal of Government GGS Adarsh Senior Secondary School, Sahnewali, had failed to make arrangements for hygienic drinking water for the students. They alleged that the underground water in Sahnewali contained uranium.
The complaint was sent to the DGSE by seven sarpanches of gram panchayats, including Sahnewali, Ghuduwala, Danewala, Jarana Kalan and Maewala. They also alleged usurpation of grants received from the state government for supplying free of cost uniforms, books, mid-day meals and free transport.
The complaint by the sarpanches was brought to the High Court’s notice by Amrik Singh and three other residents of Fatehgarh Sahnewal village. In their petition filed in public interest, they alleged that the DGSE had so far not responded to their complaint sent on May 29 through registered post. They prayed that inquiry be ordered into the conduct of Vinay Kumari, school principal.
The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih directed the DGSE to conduct an inquiry into the complaint within a
month. The Bench further directed the DGSE to take corrective action, if required, after the inquiry.
The directions come at a time when the authorities concerned across the country are under pressure to open a chapter of safety and sanitation for school students. Already, more than 850 students suffered nausea and complained of stomach ache after consuming iron tablets in government schools in several districts of Haryana. Besides, there was a mid-day meal tragedy that left 23 children dead in Bihar recently.
