City briefs

Mid-day meal: HC says can’t deny students relief
Upholding the “right to life and health” for children ,the Delhi High Court on Wednesday ruled that those schoolchildren who fell sick after eating mid-day meal in a government school were entitled to receive compensation.

At least 40 students of the Girls’ Middle School in Hauz Qazi,Lal Kuan,had fallen ill on May 4 after eating the mid-day meal supplied by an NGO. Though the police had registered a case of endangering human life by negligence,the government dismissed the matter terming it to be a case of fear psychosis.

In a report filed on Wednesday,the government said the NGO was suspended from supplying the meal. It also claimed the children complained primarily because of fear and said their condition was not bad.

But the Bench was unimpressed by the argument. “We cannot ignore it by saying that it was a fear psychosis and a figment of their imagination. It must be a lesson for everyone. The NGO should also be blacklisted,“ said the Bench.

Haryana schools close for summer from today
Gurgaon: In view of the heat wave in north India,the Haryana Education Department has declared summer holidays for students in all government as well as aided schools in Gurgaon from May 27. The schools were earlier supposed to close on May 31. The teaching and other staff will however have to come on duty during these days,said the Director School Education.