Chhattisgarh High Court Slams Self Help Group, Teachers Of Govt School For Allegedly Serving 'Dog-Licked Food' To Students

The Chhattisgarh High Court pulled up authorities of a Government Middle School located in Balodabazar district wherein "dog-licked food" was allegedly served to the students, thereby endangering their life and making them highly susceptible to rabies.The court took note of an August 3 news-report published in a Hindi daily which reported that students were served food licked by a dog. The order notes that as per the report when the students informed their parents, a meeting of the School Committee was held and under the pressure of the parents, 83 students were administered two doses of anti-rabies each. The court also took note of another news report as per which 84 students had eaten the said food but 78 students were administered first doses of anti rabies. Pulling up the self-help group responsible for serving the food, along with the teachers for "dereliction" of their duties, a division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru in its order said:“It is highly surprising that the Swa Sahayta Samuh who are responsible for serving food to the students, are performing their duties in a casual manner without keeping in mind the safety and hygiene. The photograph published along with the news shows two utensils on clay stove lying in an open area which could be eaten / soiled by any stray animals, be it dogs, pigs, rodents etc. The teachers who are posted in the school also appear to be least concerned about the safety of the children which is gross negligence...As soon as it came to the knowledge of the teachers that the food has been licked by the dog, it should have been disposed of and no students should have been allowed to eat the same. There appears to be serious dereliction on the part of the Swa Sahayta Samuh as well as the teachers and the life of the students have been put to danger as once a person is infected with rabies, there is no cure available”The court thereafter underscored that “providing food to the students studying in the schools is not an empty formality and the same has to be done with dignity"."When the State Government is spending so much of funds for upliftment of the schools and its paraphernalia, then such lapses on the part of the authorities responsible for its functioning, is a matter of serious concern," the bench added. The court directed the Secretary of School Education Department to file an affidavit informing whether students who consumed the soiled food were given anti-rabies vaccine and the action taken against the Swa Sahayta Samuh as well as the school's Teachers/Head Master.The Secretary is to further inform on if any compensation has been given to the students and the precautionary measures the Department would take to prevent future incidents. The matter is now listed on August 19.Case Title: In The Matter Of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation Versus The Chief Secretary & OthersCase Number: WPPIL No. 75 of 2023 Click Here To Read/Download Order

Chhattisgarh High Court Slams Self Help Group, Teachers Of Govt School For Allegedly Serving 'Dog-Licked Food' To Students

Saahas Arora

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