The Delhi High Court on April 27 issued a scathing rebuke to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi Government, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)- led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for their collective failure to provide textbooks to over 2 lakh students. The Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, criticised the Delhi Government for prioritising power politics over the welfare of its citizens.
The court’s censure was a response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the organisation Social Jurist, which brought to light the plight of students in MCD schools who were denied essential supplies like textbooks, uniforms, and stationery. The bench expressed its dismay at the Government’s indifference towards the education crisis, stating that the distribution of educational materials should not be the court’s responsibility but is necessitated by the Government’s failure to fulfil its duties.
The court admonished the Delhi government’s counsel during the proceedings, stating, “Your client is just interested in power. I don’t know how much power you want. The problem is that you are trying to appropriate power, which is why you are not getting power.” It further criticised Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj for ignoring the students’ plight and accused him of shedding “crocodile tears.”
The MCD Commissioner informed the bench that nearly two lakh students were affected by the lack of a standing committee with the authority to award contracts for essential supplies. The court emphasised that children’s education should not be compromised due to administrative inefficiencies and urged the Delhi government to delegate financial authority to an appropriate body without the standing committee.
The court’s condemnation of the Government’s indifference towards the students’ suffering was stark: “All that you are interested in is power. This is the arrogance of power at its highest.” The court sternly warned the Government not to underestimate the court’s authority and expressed its dismay at the deteriorating state of affairs in Delhi.
In response to the Government’s claim that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) unlawfully appointed an alderperson, resulting in the lack of a standing committee, the court asserted that administrative issues should not impede children’s education. It highlighted the need for effective leadership and criticised the Government for failing to address the education crisis.
Ultimately, the court reserved its order and scheduled the judgment for April 29. The Delhi High Court’s scathing criticism underscores the urgency of addressing the education crisis in MCD schools and holds the Government accountable for its failure to fulfill its responsibilities towards the students.
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