Kum S.Shakeera Begum, v. State Of Andhra Pradesh,

HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE DILIP B.BHOSALE AND HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE P.NAVEEN RAO PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION No.285 OF 2015 Date: 28.3.2016 Between:

Kum S.Shakeera Begum, student of KVR Government Junior College for (Girls), Kurnool.

.....Petitioner And State of Andhra Pradesh, rep.by its Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and others.

.....Respondents The Court made the following:

HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE DILIP B. BHOSALE AND HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE P. NAVEEN RAO PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION No.285 OF 2015 PC: (Per the Hon'ble Sri Justice P.Naveen Rao) Several girl students studying in KVR Government Junior College for

(Girls) Kurnool addressed letters on post cards to the Hon'ble the Chief Justice bringing to his notice the plight of the girl students studying in the said college informing the Hon'ble Chief Justice basic minimum facilities like class rooms, hostels, wash rooms are not available and even during rainy season or in the hot summer, they are forced to sit under the trees to study. Moved by the plight of the girl students, the letters were taken up as Public Interest Litigation. On 5.10.2016 this Court directed the Kurnool District Collector to visit the Government Junior College for Girls (9th respondent) and verify the correctness of the grievances made by the girl students. Accordingly, the District Collector visited the college and submitted his report.

The District Collector was directed to furnish list of girl schools and colleges in Kurnool district. Having noticed that lot is desired to be done in providing basic facilities in schools and colleges run by Government, the Court appointed Ms.Priyanka Singh as Amicus Curiae to assist the Court. District Collector was further directed to depute officers to visit all those girls schools and colleges and submit similar reports.

2. The reports filed by the respondents are accepted and taken on record. Learned Amicus curiae pointed out that as per the directions of this Court, various measures are taken; adequate provision is made for wash rooms and drinking water facilities in Government schools and colleges. She has pointed out that some private establishments have come forward to take up the responsibility and the same is commendable. She has pointed out that with reference to repairing of the wash rooms and provision of class rooms and construction of compound walls in various schools/colleges, the District Collector requested the Government and A.P. Sarvashiksha Abhiyan for taking appropriate steps and according sanction to undertake civil works, but so far, Government has not acted upon said proposals. She suggested issuing directions to the Government to act upon the proposals submitted by the District Administration as well as Heads of Departments to provide above facilities on time bound basis.

3. Learned Amicus curiae further submitted that though adequate measures are taken regarding maintenance of wash rooms and provision of water for the wash rooms as well as drinking water, lot more is required to be done; such maintenance should be continuously undertaken and there

should be regular monitoring by the officials at the District level to ensure that there is no laxity in providing these facilities. According to her, District Collector should create a mechanism for supervision and monitoring under his over all control. Such monitoring should be extended to the schools maintained by private organizations also. She also suggested that private corporate houses can be roped in on various other aspects also and particularly with reference to maintenance of existing facilities under the corporate social responsibility scheme. She has pointed out that several letters addressed by the District Collector filed along with the status reports indicate that the Government is indifferent to the issues concerning its schools and colleges in the District.

4. One of the grievances of the students of Government Junior College (Girls) Kurnool is that they do not have proper class rooms for study and not provided with residential hostel facilities and same is causing much inconvenience and hardship to them and their parents. As seen from the letter of Commissioner of Intermediate Education addressed to Commissioner of Collegiate Education on 29.1.2014, a proposal was made for allocation of portion of land from out of Ac.13.00 of land on which KVR Degree college for women, Kurnool is established, for Government Junior College for Girls, so that separate accommodation can be created for girls junior college with residential hostel facility instead of operating the Degree and Junior colleges on shift basis. It appears, so far, no decision is taken on the said proposal.

Learned Amicus Curiae submitted that as the Government Junior College (Girls) Kurnool is now operated from the same premises where the Government Degree College, Kurnool is located and that Government Degree College has Ac. 13.00 of land in its possession, the Government may be directed to take immediate steps to allocate at least Ac.1.00 of land to the Government Junior College (Girls) Kurnool so that appropriate college and hostel buildings are constructed for the Government junior college for Girls, Kurnool.

5. Taking due note of submissions made by learned Amicus Curiae, the following directions are issued:

(a) The Principal Secretary, Higher Education, and the Principal Secretary, Department of School Education, State of Andhra Pradesh are

directed to immediately review the facilities available in the Government schools and colleges in Kurnool district and consider the proposals submitted by the District Collector and act upon said proposals within a time frame and at any rate within a period of two months from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

(b) The District Collector, Kurnool is directed to ensure that water is provided to wash rooms and wash rooms are maintained properly in Government as well as private schools and colleges in the District. He shall also ensure provision of drinking water round the year. (c) The District Collector shall constitute a committee of officers at the District level under his supervision to continuously monitor the provision of basic minimum facilities in the Government schools and colleges in the District. He shall pay particular attention to girls schools and colleges. (d) The Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education shall take immediate steps to allocate Ac.1.00 of land now forming part of Government Degree College, Kurnool to Government Junior College for Girls, Kurnool.

(e) The District Collector shall pursue with the Government to secure necessary administrative sanction for construction of college and hostel buildings for the Government Junior College for Girls in Kurnool and other facilities required to strength the Government schools and colleges in Kurnool District and to ensure that proper environment is created to the students prosecuting education in Government schools and colleges.

6. The Public Interest Litigation is accordingly disposed of. We place on record our appreciation to the invaluable assistance extended by learned Amicus Curiae Miss Priyanka Singh.

Miscellaneous petitions if any pending shall stand closed. ___________________________ DILIP B. BHOSALE, ACJ ___________________________ P.NAVEEN RAO, J Date: 28.3.2016 tvk

HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE DILIP B.BHOSALE AND HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE P.NAVEEN RAO

PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO.285 OF 2015 Date: 28.03.2016 tvk