Nagpur: The education sector has switched to online format due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown, but 829 villages in Gadchiroli district do not have internet connectivity. This was disclosed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in an affidavit filed before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, when a suo moto PIL (No. 7/2020) was heard.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was based on letters from 10 school students from remote villages in the Naxal-affected district, written to the Chief Justice of the HC and the senior administrative judge of the Nagpur bench, where Firdous Mirza was appointed as amicus curiae. went.
Angered by the information provided by the Department of Telecommunications, a division bench of Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Anil Pansare expressed concern over the future of school children in the tribal-dominated district.
“DoT’s reply brings to the fore a very disturbing picture regarding Gadchiroli, where no less than 829 villages lack mobile internet connectivity. If this is the situation there, then you can very well imagine what will happen in the future? Maharashtraof the next generation that will come from this district. No physical classes are going on and children from these 829 villages are also not able to participate in digital classes,” the judges said.
Equally annoyed at the reports of irregular supply of mid-day meals to children in the backward district, the bench asked the respondents to file their reply on the discrepancy.
“The Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme is an important aspect relating to children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. It is argued that due to online classes, mid-day meal is not being provided at some places and no allowance is being paid in lieu of it. In these circumstances, the reply of each of the respondents – the Cabinet Secretary, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Chief Secretary of the State and the Principal Secretary of the State Energy Department is required,” the bench said.
The judges adjourned the hearing by four weeks and asked the principal secretary of the state’s tribal development department to file a reply on all the aspects raised by him during the hearing and the orders passed by him on September 8. He was further asked to submit a list. Number of schools in Gadchiroli providing education up to class X.
Hearing an application by arbitrator Shravan Taran, the judges said he wanted to point out the shortcomings existing in the education sector of Gadchiroli. “The purpose is understandable, and also laudable. However, the proper way for the arbitrator to serve the cause with respect to the issues raised in this PIL would be to assist the amicus curiae. Accordingly, giving him liberty to assist Mirza, we dispose of this application,” he said.
# What did the High Court say?
*DoT’s reply reveals a very disturbing picture about Gadchiroli
* Concerned about the future of the next generation of the district
*No physical classes are being held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
* Many people are unable to attend online classes due to no internet connectivity
*Important aspect of mid-day meal scheme under Right to Education
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was based on letters from 10 school students from remote villages in the Naxal-affected district, written to the Chief Justice of the HC and the senior administrative judge of the Nagpur bench, where Firdous Mirza was appointed as amicus curiae. went.
Angered by the information provided by the Department of Telecommunications, a division bench of Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Anil Pansare expressed concern over the future of school children in the tribal-dominated district.
“DoT’s reply brings to the fore a very disturbing picture regarding Gadchiroli, where no less than 829 villages lack mobile internet connectivity. If this is the situation there, then you can very well imagine what will happen in the future? Maharashtraof the next generation that will come from this district. No physical classes are going on and children from these 829 villages are also not able to participate in digital classes,” the judges said.
Equally annoyed at the reports of irregular supply of mid-day meals to children in the backward district, the bench asked the respondents to file their reply on the discrepancy.
“The Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme is an important aspect relating to children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. It is argued that due to online classes, mid-day meal is not being provided at some places and no allowance is being paid in lieu of it. In these circumstances, the reply of each of the respondents – the Cabinet Secretary, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Chief Secretary of the State and the Principal Secretary of the State Energy Department is required,” the bench said.
The judges adjourned the hearing by four weeks and asked the principal secretary of the state’s tribal development department to file a reply on all the aspects raised by him during the hearing and the orders passed by him on September 8. He was further asked to submit a list. Number of schools in Gadchiroli providing education up to class X.
Hearing an application by arbitrator Shravan Taran, the judges said he wanted to point out the shortcomings existing in the education sector of Gadchiroli. “The purpose is understandable, and also laudable. However, the proper way for the arbitrator to serve the cause with respect to the issues raised in this PIL would be to assist the amicus curiae. Accordingly, giving him liberty to assist Mirza, we dispose of this application,” he said.
# What did the High Court say?
*DoT’s reply reveals a very disturbing picture about Gadchiroli
* Concerned about the future of the next generation of the district
*No physical classes are being held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
* Many people are unable to attend online classes due to no internet connectivity
*Important aspect of mid-day meal scheme under Right to Education
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