Delhi HC Warns AAP Govt Of 'Contempt Of Court' Over Non-Supply Of Textbooks In Schools

The Delhi High Court pulled up the city government's education department over its failure to supply textbooks to students studying in government-run schools and warned it of contempt of court notice.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up Delhi government's education department over its failure to supply textbooks to students studying in government-run schools and warned it of issuing contempt of court notice.

A bench of Acting Chief Manmohanand Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora expressed grave concern and displeasure over the delay in supply of textbooks and warned that it will issue suo motu contempt of court notice to the Deputy Director of the Education department.

These scathing observations from the court came after it found that the Delhi government has not complied with its own earlier affidavit in which it said that textbooks will be distributed to students by May 10. But a subsequent report submitted on Wednesday (May 15) in court said that the task would be completed by July after summer vacations.

The court took strong exception and said that it is not good for a government to not adhere to its own deadlines. The court further expressed willingness to issue contempt of court notice to Delhi government for not complying by its own affidavit in court.

Counsel appearing for NGO Social Jurist, told the court that as per the latest status report, out of the demand for 1,08,96,586 text books, a balance of more than 85 lakhs books remains to be still supplied to the students of Class 1-8.

The court was further told that under the Right to Education Act, there is no penalty for non-compliance with the provisions of the Act.

However, the high court left the Delhi government with a warning after the counsel appearing for the city government assured the court that the textbooks will be supplied to students after summer vacations in July when schools reopen.

It then proceeded to list the case for further hearing in July. 

The Delhi government said that it could not supply books to students due to a change in syllabus.

The case came up after a PIL was filed by Social Jurist against the lack of infrastructure in North-east Delhi's government schools.