Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 7: The State High Court while rapping the Government for its failure to stop burning of schools today asked it to take effective measures in safeguarding them.
Hearing a suo-moto cognizance taken by the Chief Justice last week about the burning of educational institutions, the Court came down heavily on the State counsel B A Dar (AAG) when he submitted that effective steps have been taken to save the schools from burning but court rapped the counsel and questioned him about the recent incident of burning two schools.
“Where were your officials when yesterday attempt was made to burn two more schools, compliance on papers is not enough. We are concerned to save the schools”, observed the division bench of Justice Sudhakar Ramalingam and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey during the proceedings of the matter.
Inspector General of Police, who was present in the court, stated that besides schools more than 100 Government buildings have been damaged during the unrest and petrol bombs are being used in such kind of incidents.
The Divisional Commissioner also apprised the court about the steps taken for safeguarding the schools and informed the court that control rooms have been established which are in touch with the concerned police stations .
Court previously had asked that no other school buildings, in any manner is harmed or destroyed and the mysterious enemies of education be unmasked and dealt with iron had. Comprehensive and consolidated compliance report was sought from the officials in this regard.
Court asked theses officials to make coordinative efforts in saving the educational institutions from any kind of damage as also involve locals in the process in order to keep vigil on these buildings. “Village Level Committees, Sarpanches, Panches and Lumberdars are involved in the said kind of process”, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir submitted before the court.
Court also suggested that fire dousing equipments are mandatory in such kind of public buildings. Court also said that services of contingent paid employees of schools can be utilized with enhancing their wages so that they can keep vigil on the school buildings.
In this connection, the Director School Education submitted before the court that he has raised the issue of enhancement of wages for contingent paid employees with the Education Minister recently so that they can keep strong vigil on the school buildings. He has also submitted that control rooms at CEO and ZEO level have been established to safeguard the institutions.
Besides other issues, court enquired from IGP about the steps taken for safeguarding the schools from any damage to which the IGP has given detailed answer. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has also stated that out of 11 incidents of setting ablaze the schools 6 attempts have been frustrated as there is overwhelming response from the public also in safeguarding the schools.
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