A High Court bench has sought a detailed account from the West Bengal government after children at two schools in South 24 Parganas were reportedly forced to use a muddy, unusable access route to attend classes and collect midday meals.
Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghughe’s bench directed the state government to submit a clear account of the conditions within two weeks in the form of an affidavit. The case has been listed for an urgent hearing on September 28, according to advocate Ghanshyam Pandey, who provided details of the proceedings.
The public interest litigation was filed by Rabindra Nath Saha. It concerns Baleswarpur RDBPM School and Roja Dogochha F.P. School, both located in South 24 Parganas. The report said the schools do not have a proper connecting road. The available route remains filled with mud and soil, making travel difficult for students.
The access problem has a direct effect on the delivery of midday meals. Students at one of the schools reportedly have to travel twice along the muddy route to collect the meal. The arrangement means that children must negotiate the same difficult stretch not only while attending school but also during the midday meal process.
As part of its directions, the bench asked the petitioner to prepare a map showing the access routes leading to the schools. The petitioner has also been asked to provide details of the distance between the schools and the nearest paved road, along with a map of the proposed or required paved connection.
The court has directed that the district panchayat and the rural development officer be made parties to the case. Their inclusion places the condition of the school approach roads within the responsibility of the rural local administration and the department dealing with development works.
The proceedings identify a basic infrastructure gap affecting access to public education. While the schools are functioning, the reported absence of a usable approach road has made reaching them difficult for children and has complicated the movement required for the midday meal service. The directions also require the authorities to place the physical layout of the problem, including the distance to a paved road, before the court.
The state government’s affidavit is expected to set out the condition of the roads and the steps being taken. The case is scheduled for consideration under the urgent motion category on September 28, with the district panchayat and rural development officer now included in the proceedings.
