The High Court has asked the State administration to file its reply next week regarding the steps taken for providing potable water, furniture and toilets among other basic facilities in the State schools. On Friday, the State Finance secretary Amit Negi and education secretary Chandrashekhar Bhatt appeared in the high court in this case. According to case details, Dehradun resident Deepak Rana had filed a PIl in the high court stating that the state’s primary schools were in a bad shape. Such schools suffer from shortage of teachers and damaged state of buildings. Midday meals are not served daily to students in such primary schools which also lack adequate furniture for the children. The petitioner had further stated that such schools lacked proper water facility and even the books were not available on time. Hearing on the petition in the past, the court had on November 26, 2016 issued 10-point guidelines to the state government. The court had directed that water facility be provided in government schools, in addition to which midday meals should also be facilitated for all eligible students. Computers, books, uniforms and toilets should also be facilitated in the schools, the court had stated in the guidelines. On Friday, the finance secretary informed the court that education department had submitted a Rs 900 crore proposal for providing the required facilities but the cabinet’s approval is needed for this. He said that due to its weak finances, the State was not in a position to spend this amount. The court directed that Rs 100 crore be arranged for providing basic facilities. The court also directed that a progress report be submitted by Wednesday next week. In the education department, only the very important material should be purchased with permission of the chief secretary, the court further directed.