HC seeks affidavits on non-supply of textbooks in Punjab, Chandigarh

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state of Punjab and Union Territory of Chandigarh to file affidavits regarding the non-supply of books up to the class 8.

Taking up a petition filed in public interest, a bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Anil Kshetarpal made it clear that non-submission of affidavits would entail the appearance of authorities concerned through the virtual mode.

“Let affidavits be filed by the State of Punjab as well as the Union Territory, Chandigarh, by the next date of hearing, failing which the Principal Secretary, Department of School Education, Punjab, and Director School Education, Chandigarh, shall appear personally on virtual platform,” the Bench asserted.

The matter was brought to the bench’s notice after Dipti Singh through counsel Ranjan Lakhanpal, Shubhkarman Singh Sandhu and Molly A Lakhanpal filed a petition against the Union of India and other respondents on the alleged lack of essential textbooks in schools.

The petitioner claimed books were not distributed to class 6 students in the region despite the government’s claim of providing free education and resources up to class 7 across India.

She further pointed out that the students had not received textbooks despite that academic session started in April 2024.

“How will they take the exam without studying even for a single day. The Constitution of India provides equal opportunity in law. However, it is astonishing as to how they will compete with the students of private schools,” the petitioner added.