Pulling up the Delhi govt for running schools from tin sheds, Delhi High Court has asked the govt to stop “glorifying” how children are studying in these clasrooms. The court asked the govt to prepare a plan to modernise such schools.

“You can’t glorify how students are attending classes under tin sheds. If good results are a justification, then all your schools should be converted into tin sheds,” said a bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedella. The bench made the remarks after the directorate of education (DoE) claimed that despite studying under tin sheds, students were performing brilliantly.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Ashok Aggarwal, alleging that classes in at least three govt-run schools—Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Zeenat Mahal, Kamla Market; Government Girls Secondary School, Ashok Nagar; and Government Boys Secondary School, Ashok Nagar—were being conducted under tin sheds, affecting over 1,000 students.

Last month, the court had reprimanded DOE and the govt over the deplorable conditions and directed steps to ensure classes were held in “pucca” buildings.

On Wednesday, DOE informed the court that it had taken measures to improve facilities at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya but claimed that parents of students in the Ashok Nagar schools were resisting relocation. The court ordered the Public Works Department (PWD) and DoE to conduct an urgent joint inspection and prepare a blueprint for a new school block to address long-term needs. It also sought a fresh status report on progress.

Regarding the government secondary schools in Ashok Nagar, DoE said that although land for permanent construction was acquired in 1986, ongoing litigation has prevented its use. The court demanded a detailed status report on all related legal disputes.