File details of budget for schools, HC orders govt
The Himachal High Court has directed the state government to file a fresh status report furnishing the names of the schools, along with budgetary allocations for them, in a tabulated form on or before the next date of hearing.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya passed the order after perusing the instructions filed by the government regarding the maintenance of government schools in the state. The court observed that “though the state has placed on record the instructions dated December 2 and 3, 2024, these are bereft of any details, as these do not reflect the name of the schools for which budgetary provisions for repair have been made district-wise.
It directed the state to file a fresh status report and listed the matter for further hearing on December 18.
The court passed the order during the course of hearing on a public interest litigation regarding the proper maintenance of schools.
In its earlier order, the court had sought the details of primary and middle government schools from the government and what was the annual budget for their maintenance. In compliance with the order, the Director Higher Education had filed a status report informing therein that minor repairs were required in 3,034 classrooms and major repairs in 1,512 classrooms and the government had made a budgetary provision of Rs 2.5 crore for 2023-24.
