Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday said that strict action would be taken against the persons found guilty of turning schools into cattle pens
He gave these remarks while presiding over a 3-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) during the course of hearing of a suo motu notice on the pitiable plight of state run schools.
The chief justice observed “This is the case of paramount importance before the court. Education department functionaries are subjecting the children to worst ever injustice. Education of the children of the nation cannot be compromised. Stern action will be taken against the elements found involved in turning the schools into cattle pens. The feudal class is opposed to education. Thousands of ghost schools are operating and hard earned money of people running into billion of rupees is being spent on these schools. If political influence is being exercised on education then it is a heinous joke and sheer injustice with the nation”.
Advocate generals from the four provinces appeared in the court while Abdul Hafiz Pirzada appeared as amicus curie.
Furthermore, the CJ said, “People are telling the court that cattle rather than children are sitting in the schools. As to why such facts are being concealed. This is matter of shame for us and you.
Moreover, CJ remarked “Sindh Rural Authority (SRA) has sent a report that children are going to schools regularly and study is continuing therein. However, the affairs were found otherwise when checked on the occasion. The chief secretary should register cases and have the culprits arrested.”
Sindh advocate general informed that court that at least 56 schools were operating while 99 schools still stood closed.
The petitioner, Rehmat Ullah, said that teachers had gone on deputation to the schools operating in the urban areas. He alleged that teachers came to school, marked their attendance for the entire year and left. Furthermore, he said that in one school, at least 156 children were enrolled but only one teacher was teaching them. Moreover, he said that in another school at least 14 children were enrolled and 11 teachers had been appointed.
The chief justice said, “We direct district and sessions judges to compile data of closed schools within a week and inform us about the condition and budget details of functional schools. They are children of our nation.” The court remarked that billion of rupees were being spent on salaries and perks but the result was next to nothing. Furthermore, the chief justice said that provincial leaders were doing nothing but compiling reports. The hearing of the case was adjourned till March 18.
