Karnataka High Court asks NLSIU to assist in preparing road map to develop better Infrastructure in Government schools

The Karnataka High Court on Monday sought the assistance of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in preparing a road map for developing infrastructure in the State's government schools. .The Court was prompted to issue notice after it expressed its dissatisfaction over the way in which the State government had intended to spend a Rs 100 crore budget earmarked for the said infrastructure project..A Division Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Hanchate Sanjeevkumar observed:."Prima facie, we are not satisfied with the action plan submitted by the State and hence for the purpose of assistance in this matter and also to gather the true and correct picture as well as ground reality prevailing in respect of infrastructure in government and aided schools in the State, we think it just and proper to hear a few persons/entities involved in the field of education of children in government and aided schools.".Notice was issued to the Center for Child and the Law (NLSIU, Bengaluru) and to Dr VP Niranjanaradhya, Senior fellow CCL, NLSIU to assist the High Court in the matter and to prepare a road map for providing infrastructure in the government or aided schools throughout Karnataka, bearing in mind the funds available and other factors..The Court was hearing a petition moved by the Anti-Corruption Council of India highlighting the lack of infrastructure in government and aided schools across the State when it passed the order. .When the matter was taken up for hearing on Monday, the Court orally observed that, "We are going nowhere in this case, except you (State) filing reports etc which is of no help." .Adding on, the Court hinted that it may issue directions for constituting a committee for the improvement of the infrastructure at schools. ."Let us get their (NGO's) view point. They are the persons working in the field, what they have in mind, let us get that ... Then we will issue directions. We may possibly issue directions for constituting a committee to go into for improvement of school infrastructure in the State," the Court said. .In a previous hearing, the State government had informed the Court that a sum of Rs 88 crores had earlier been allotted for improving the infrastructure of schools in the year 2020-21 and that an amount of Rs. 100 crores has been allotted in the year 2021-22 for the same purpose..The matter will be next heard on July 22.