'140 students in classroom, no books': Advocate on Delhi schools

'140 students in classroom, no books': Advocate on Delhi schools
27 Apr 2024

Advocate Ashok Aggarwal has highlighted a stark contrast between the portrayal of Delhi schools in government advertisements and their actual conditions.

This came a day after the high court slammed the Arvind Kejriwal government for not issuing books to students in government schools.

"The Delhi government deserved to be lashed out. I saw 140 students in one class in Delhi...no water facility and the same condition I witnessed in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) schools as well," Aggarwal said.

8,00,000 students have not received textbooks: Aggarwal
Textbook shortage

Aggarwal disclosed that approximately 8,00,000 students are enrolled under the MCD, none of whom have received textbooks, notebooks, or uniforms.

Similarly, 10 lakh students from standards 1 to 8 who come under the Right to Education Act are under the Delhi government.

He said that those students received notebooks only after the high Court chastised the Delhi government and MCD.

Court accuses Kejriwal of prioritizing personal interests over national interests
Power over duty

On Friday, the Delhi High Court chastised the Delhi government for the delay in providing textbooks to two lakh pupils.

Acting Chief Justice Manmohan observed that Kejriwal prioritizes political interests over national interests by refusing to resign after being jailed in the Delhi excise policy case.

"I don't know how much power you want. The problem is because you are trying to appropriate power, which is why you are not getting power," the court added.

Court criticized Delhi government for neglecting its duties
Stalled projects

The court was considering a public interest litigation petition (PIL) filed by 'Social Jurist', an organization that highlighted the issue of MCD school students not receiving textbooks and studying in makeshift classrooms due to administrative deadlock.

Advocate Agarwal represented the Social Jurist.

The MCD commissioner earlier stated that the facilities were not allocated since there was no standing committee that has the authority to award contracts worth more than ₹5 crore.