Citizens of India are not always appreciative of judgments passed by the judicial courts, specially the High Courts and the Supreme Court while disposing of PILs. For example the Supreme Court verdict on the singing of National Anthem in public places or the decision of banning sale of liquor by vends, bars and restaurants falling within 500 m along the highways, were accepted with some reservations by many.
However the decision by the Uttarakhand High Court to ban the purchase of “luxury” items such as cars, mobiles etc for the Government departments due to the failure of the State to provide basic infrastructure facilities to the Government-run schools received popular support, not only in Uttarakhand but across the country. Besides the High Court in its previous ruling had mandated the Government to attend to the needs of those schools but the Government was unmoved.
Most Indians will agree that the politicians and the bureaucracy are not concerned about the basic infrastructure of schools and health centers, which are in dire need of regular maintenance and improvements.
Similar situation is prevalent in Goa too both in schools and health centers or for that matter even in hospitals.
Just recently there was an incident wherein the iron grill of the gallery of Margao Hospicio came crashing down, seriously injuring a woman and there is apprehension that the remaining portions of gallery ceilings of upper floors could collapse anytime. Very often people criticise the judicial overreach of the courts, however many a times the common men receive relief only when the courts intervene and force the Government and the bureaucracy to go into action.
Government apathy is one of the main reason why public schools and health centers continue to be in pathetic and neglected conditions even 70 years after India achieving Independence.
Evidently the Uttarakhand’s High Court order has far reaching implications, as it placed the onus of providing necessary infrastructure to the temples of learning squarely on the Government and that it should take precedence over the needs of babus for luxury Items.
