Srinagar, Dec 24: The High Court Friday directed the state Government to provide necessary heating facilities to all schools which have been kept open for winter schooling. The court has asked the concerned Deputy Commissioners to monitor the arrangements.
The Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Hakeem Imtiyaz Hussain and Justice Muzaffar Attar asked the Director School Education Kashmir to ensure the heating arrangements through concerned Chief Education Officers.
 While hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Advocate G M Wani seeking adequate heating arrangements in schools or their closure during winters, the court also directed the Government to provide additional funds, if required, for ensuring adequate heating facilities in educational institutions.
 “The Director School Education would issue directions to all concerned Chief Education Officers for ensuring these facilities,” the court said.
 The court directed the CEOs to submit their compliance report through Director School Education by December 31.
 The court directed all the concerned Deputy Commissioners to monitor the arrangements made and submit their compliance report through Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on next date of hearing on December 31.
 The DCs have also been asked to arrange local funds, if required, for these facilities.
 The PIL said the novel experiment of winter schooling has drawn flak from diverse quarters because it is fraught with multiple dangers and hazards. “Two hundred and seventy thousand minors will be denuded to the danger of several serious diseases and immense infections which the extreme cold can inflict,” it said.
 Litigant said the first day in the classes proved a nightmare for the students. “Bereft of matting, seating arrangements, open windows, broken windowpanes, gusts of numbing cold wind, absence of any gadgets or apparatus for heating, the bare floors are sufficient to make them shiver and blunt their senses making all instruction fall flat,” he said. The litigant said the harsh weather conditions were not conducive for education. “Students need to feel comfortable to concentrate properly so that they are able to listen and comprehend,” he said.
 He said that the ailments of respiratory system and pneumonia could be the consequence of exposure to severe cold.
 On Dec 6, the state Government ordered continuation of schooling in the Valley during winters in High and Higher Secondary schools to compensate the losses suffered by the students due to closure of the institutions during the summer unrest.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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