AP high court seeks govt’s response on lack of school buildings

Vijayawada: The high court on Wednesday directed the govt to file a response in the PIL filed seeking directions to the govt to provide school buildings in tribal areas of ASR district.One Akhil Guru Teja moved the HC, contending that 915 schools are not having buildings in ASR district and students are studying under trees. Arguing on his behalf, Thandava Yogesh said providing school buildings is mandatory under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. "Though sanctions were given for construction of 644 schools, none of the school buildings have been completed yet, and construction was not started in 285 schools," he told the court. Considering the arguments, the bench headed by Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Challa Gunaranjan observed that students should not be exposed to the vagaries of nature. As the petition mentioned the situation in only one district, the high court expressed concern as to what the situation across the state is. Issuing notices to the govt, the court asked it to file a detailed report on the subject matter explaining the steps being taken to construct school buildings not just in ASR district but across the state.