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Concerned Over Students Wading Through Marshy Land, Seeks State Reply
In a significant , the has expressed deep concern over the plight of students forced to wade through marshy land to access their school's midday meal facility. A comprising Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty issued to the to file a detailed on the matter.
Students Forced to Wade Through Marshes for Meals
The , filed by Rabindranath Saha, highlighted that in South 24 Parganas is surrounded by marshy land with no access road connecting it to the nearest main road. Students of both and the nearby must traverse this difficult terrain to reach the newly constructed building where midday meals are served. The petition underscored the physical hardship and safety risks faced by children daily.
Court's Concern for Students' Future
The Bench recorded its serious apprehensions about the school's environment.
"We are concerned about the school being conducted in a healthy atmosphere and secure the future of the students who are taking education in the two schools,"
the court observed. It further noted that students face
"great difficulty because there is no access road for the students"
while commuting for midday meals.
The court allowed the to the and Rural Development Officer, South 24 Parganas, as a to ensure all relevant authorities are part of the proceedings.
State Given Time to Respond
Learned State Advocate (Panel-A) submitted that the is not adversarial and that the government would file a proper within two weeks. The court accepted this and directed that the -in-opposition be filed on or before .
The Bench also instructed the 's counsel to prepare a sketch map showing the portion of the road that has been concretised, the exact location of both schools, and their respective distances from the concretised road. This map will aid the court in understanding the ground situation.
Mapping the Road Ahead
The case has been listed under the "" category for . The court's proactive stance signals a push for immediate administrative action to ensure safe and dignified access to education for these students.
The order underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding , particularly the under , and highlights the state's duty to provide basic infrastructure for schools.
