Chandigarh

The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken serious note of the poor condition of government primary schools in Nuh district and initiated suo motu proceedings, describing the situation as “extremely grave” and a possible violation of children’s fundamental rights.

Acting on media reports published on May 6, the commission sought detailed explanations from state authorities and observed that the conditions prima facie reflected serious violations of children’s rights to education, health and dignified living.

The bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra along with members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, examined reports highlighting severe infrastructure deficiencies in schools located in the Ferozepur Jhirka area.

According to material placed before the commission, the Government Primary School in Kubda Bas village is reportedly operating from a cattle shed, where around 62 students from Balvatika to Class 3 attend classes. Reports indicated that cows and buffaloes are tied at the same premises after school hours, with fodder also stored there, creating unhygienic conditions despite regular cleaning.

Another government primary school in Kalu Bas village is reportedly functioning in an open field, where students are taught using blackboards tied to trees. During monsoon, the ground reportedly turns muddy, while winter conditions make studying extremely difficult.

The commission noted that although 68 new schools were sanctioned in Nuh district in 2020, several institutions still lack basic infrastructure. In some cases, land identified for school construction is reportedly located far from villages, making access difficult.

The panel also expressed concern over a severe shortage of teachers. It noted that contractual teachers appointed through Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam from districts such as Bahadurgarh, Rewari and Mahendergarh were reportedly not attending schools regularly, affecting academic activities.

The commission observed that, wherever possible, teachers should be appointed from local or nearby areas to improve attendance and strengthen coordination with communities.

In its May 7 order, the panel said forcing children to study in cattle sheds, open fields or unsafe structures directly violates provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which mandates access to safe and accessible primary education.

The commission also said the conditions appear inconsistent with India’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognises every child’s right to education in a safe and dignified environment.

The HHRC has sought detailed reports from the Haryana government, including the Chief Secretary, the School Education Department, and district authorities in Nuh, asking for a clear, time-bound plan to address infrastructure gaps and ensure compliance with statutory norms.

READ MORE: Youngest MLA Zubair Anam Majumder is cynosure of all in Assam

According to Assistant Registrar Dr Puneet Arora, the authorities have been directed to submit their reports at least one week before the next hearing scheduled for July 22.