Bombay High Court Directs State To File An Affidavit Illustrating Steps Taken To Provide Facilities And Ensure Safety Of Various Ashram School Students

Recently, the Bombay High Court (HC) was hearing a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) related to the conditions in the ashram schools in Maharashtra. The PIL alleged that inadequate public utilities in these schools have led to many deaths. It added that the lack of proper toilet facilities led to incidents where children suffered snake bites while going outside. During the proceedings, Advocate Uday Warunjikar who appeared for the petitioner submitted, “At least earlier they said that 80 children died due to snake bite, improper medical arrangements, drowning, but now they just say 80 children died.” After hearing the matter, the Bombay HC directed the State to file an affidavit illustrating the steps taken by it to provide facilities and ensure the safety of various ashram school students. It asked the State Counsel, “Have you ever visited such institutions? Please go to one such institution and see the plight of inmates. You have given them the name of an ashram school and see their plight. This is all just paperwork; the schemes never reached the children. There is a problem of their assimilation into society, there is a problem with their education and clothing. Go to any one of these schools, and then you will be in a better position to impress upon the secretary of the department.” Further, the HC ordered the state to file affidavits within 2 weeks and asked the state to consider the gaps mentioned by the TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai). Earlier in the case, the Bombay HC directed the TISS to report on the deficiencies in the security and safety of the schools as well as provide recommendations to improve the same. Lastly, the Bombay HC mentioned the matter for hearing on November 14, 2024.