Sayan Banerjee v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

11.04.2023 Item No.41 gd/ssd WPA(P)/21/2022 IA NO: CAN/1/2022 SAYAN BANERJEE VS THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.

Mr. Sabyasachi Chatterjee, Mr. Akashdeep Mukherjee, Mr. Ankur Sharma ..for the Petitioner.

Mr. Nilotpal Chatterjee ..for the State.

1. By this public interest litigation the petitioner who is a practicing Advocate of this Court highlights a very important issue regarding the drop out of students from various schools in particular government schools. It is the case of the writ petitioner that during the Covid Pandemic on account of the classes being disrupted and lack of facility for online classes etc. there were large number of students who dropped out from government schools. Therefore, the petitioner seeks for appropriate direction to the respondents to remit the student.

2. The petitioner being an Advocate practicing before this Court and if the petitioner has any suggestions in this regard, the same can very well be placed before the Commissioner of School Education. That apart, the Commissioner of School Education

shall also call for reports from various districts as regards the students strength in the respective schools pre-Covid and post-Covid and necessary steps can be taken to sensitise the parents of those children regarding the need for education and steps have to be taken to provide clean atmosphere, good drinking water, mid-day meal etc. to bring back the drop out students to school. The suggestions, if any, as may be suggested by the writ petitioner shall also be taken note of by the Commissioner of School Education. In this regard wide publication can be given in the media and television channels impressing upon the need for good education for the children regardless of whatever strata the parents come from.

3. We hope and trust that the observations made by us in this order will be taken in the right spirit and the government will take pro-active steps to the grievance expressed.

4. With the above observation, the writ petition stands disposed of.

(T. S. SIVAGNANAM) ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE (HIRANMAY BHATTACHARYYA, J.)