Pathetic condition of toilets in schools in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana forced the Supreme Court on Tuesday to raise the pitch for “clean and safe” toilets in schools as necessary to sustain health conditions of students.
The court asked both States to frame a scheme in this regard and directed Education Secretaries to be present on the next date. Referring to an expert committee's report on the State of school toilets in the two States, the Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra noted that a "toilet in structure" only is not a "toilet in reality". "Toilets meant for schools, which are co-educational and the girls schools, have to have such toilets which are clean and acceptable, having proper facilities," the bench said.
Referring to the purpose of providing toilets in schools, the bench emphasized, "It has to be borne in mind by the authorities of the two states that clean and safe toilets also help in sustaining the health conditions of the students who use it." The observation came on a contempt petition filed by one JK Raju to provide toilet and drinking water facilities in all state schools.