Jaipur: The state govt has issued a show-cause notice to a principal in Kota for failing to decorate the school campus with Diwali lights in keeping with an official directive. This is the first year the administration has directed all govt schools to be adorned with lights and diyas for the five-day Diwali festivities.

During an inspection of schools on Diwali night Monday, education minister Madan Dilawar found a govt school in Indira Gandhi Nagar in Kota without any lights or diyas. The minister subsequently instructed the chief block education officer of Kota City to issue a notice to the school principal in this connection.

The notice stated that, in addition to beautification and painting, all govt schools were “mandated to illuminate and decorate with lights, lamps etc. on the occasion of Diwali”. It asked the principal to explain his failure to comply with these directions within two days.

Teachers’ organisations have questioned the notice issued to the principal, arguing that such directives should be issued to the local panchayat or elected representatives instead of teachers.

Narayan Singh Sisodiya, spokesperson of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Evam Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh, stated, “Teachers cannot be held responsible for setting up lights in the school or ensuring that painting is done. If the teacher posted in a particular school is not from that district and travels to their native town for festivals during holidays, how will they fulfill such orders?” he asked.

“Even though basic repair and maintenance work is not being carried out in schools, such directives are issued without any prior planning”, he added.

Sisodiya said 90% of over 65,000 govt schools – including primary, upper primary, and senior secondary schools – had not set up Diwali lights or decorations. “Only schools in cities were able to follow this order, as many schools in rural areas do not have power connections”, he revealed.

Vipin Prakash Sharma, president of the Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers’ Association, said, “Teachers did not get enough time to prepare for Diwali festivities in schools because the order was issued just two days before the holidays. Many schools also lacked the manpower necessary for painting and beautification”.