DB directs authorities to file necessary report

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 12: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by All Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Teacher Federation seeking proper student-teacher ratio in the schools, a Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Chief Justice N. Kotishwar Singh and Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi has directed authorities to file necessary report/detailed affidavits.

  After hearing Senior Advocate Pranav Kohli for the PIL, the DB observed, “after the filing of this petition, in 2019 there was change of circumstances post abrogation /reorganization of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and creation of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh”.

  “Since the issue involves the condition of schools in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, this Bench is  of the view that in addition to Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory of Ladakh may also be impleaded as party respondent. Accordingly, Union Territory of Ladakh represented through its Commissioner/ Secretary, Department of Education, Ladakh, is impleaded as respondent”, the DB said and issued notice to Vishal Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India.

“Senior Additional Advocate General S S Nanda has submitted a report dated 31.03.2023. However on perusal of the same it appears that the authorities concerned have not specified the timeline of the completion of the projects, which have been undertaken, are likely to be completed”, the DB said, adding “we would like to know the timeline within which the works are likely to be completed”.

  “Though in the report the student-teacher ratio in Elementary, High School and Secondary Schools in both rural as well as in urban areas has been spelt out, however, no information has been given as to in which schools the ratio has been implemented”, the DB said, adding “the administration would be required to ascertain whether the ratio, worked out by the authorities concerned, had been actually implemented or not with respect to Elementary, High Schools and Secondary Schools”.

DB directed that S S Nanda, Senior Additional Advocate General Vishal Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General, appearing for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will do the needful by informing the concerned authorities and shall file necessary report/ detailed affidavits.