Chandigarh, Aug 12 (NationPress) The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has proactively acknowledged the troubling state of government schools in Hisar district.

According to a media report dated August 7, the Public Works Department (PWD) has categorized buildings or significant sections of 27 government schools as “unsafe,” yet classes persist within these structures. Students are reportedly receiving instruction in open verandahs, sealed rooms, laboratories, and staff halls, often seated on the floor.

The current monsoon season exacerbates risks, including the threat of snake bites and other dangers, the report highlighted.

The full Bench, consisting of Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, emphasized that this situation transcends mere inconvenience and poses a direct threat to the lives and safety of school children.

For example, at Government Senior Secondary School in Mangali, 480 students are learning in an open verandah after 22 classrooms were sealed due to collapse risks. In Dobhi village, all 24 classrooms are in poor condition, forcing students into overcrowded libraries, laboratories, and staff rooms.

Similarly, in Dhansu, Siswala, Arya Nagar, Rajli, and other schools, children are being taught in unsafe areas where the risk of falling walls or ceilings is ever-present.

The Commission pointed out that such circumstances infringe upon Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and Article 21-A (Right to Education) of the Constitution, along with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which assure children the right to a safe and quality education.

The Bench referenced recent tragedies in Rajasthan, including the death of a seven-year-old boy in Jaisalmer when a school gate collapsed, and the fatalities of seven students in Jhalawar due to a school building collapse.

The Commission warned that swift action is imperative to avert similar tragedies in Haryana.

On Tuesday, Protocol, Information and Public Relations Officer Puneet Arora stated that the Commission has instructed the Principal Secretary (School Education Department), the Director General (Secondary Education), the Deputy Commissioner of Hisar, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Hisar, and the District Education Officer of Hisar to submit a detailed report within eight weeks addressing various issues, including the status of each condemned building, safety measures implemented, and alternative arrangements.

The Commission has set the next hearing for October 30.