Public school infrastructure: Karnataka HC expresses concern, says lack of amenities will push students to private schools

Hearing a 2013 PIL regarding public school infrastructure, the Karnataka High Court on Monday expressed concern that lack of amenities such as drinking water and functioning toilets would push children to enrol in private schools instead.

The remarks were made in the context of the submission of a report by the court-appointed amicus curiae. According to the report, 464 public schools presently lack toilet facilities, while 32 lack drinking water. A sum of Rs 80 crore has also been allocated under the Panchayat Raj Development department to construct new infrastructure.

The bench of Chief Justice Prasanna Varale and Justice Krishna Dixit observed that this would lead to the private schools flourishing even as public schools suffered. The bench pointed out that it was okay to open private schools but it should not be that other sections of society do not have educational opportunities. By way of example, the bench orally observed that the importance of education was illustrated by the fact that no photograph or bust of B R Ambedkar was seen without a book.