Kendrapara: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued conditional summons to the secretary of the state Higher Education Department for negligence regarding the problems of the students in the Upgraded High School of Baakapalasa in Kalahandi district due to lack of classrooms and teachers.
The NHRC passed the order on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
In his petition he said the students are forced to sit on the verandah as there are no classrooms. Their right to education and other rights have been snatched away by negligent authorities. The failure of the government to act on the issue is a serious violation of human rights, Tripathy said. He had earlier sought the intervention of the NHRC.
The Commission took cognizance of the matter June 29, 2017 and called for a report from the secretary of the Department of Higher Education, but the report was not submitted despite a reminder dated October 25, 2017 and a final reminder dated June 6, 2018.
The Commission said it had to invoke Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and direct the Secretary of Department of Higher Education to appear before it January 8, 2019 at 11 am with the report.
If the report is submitted on or before January 1, 2019, the personal appearance of the Secretary will be dispensed with, the Commission said.
PNN