Karnataka High Court takes Suo Motu cognizance of staff shortage in SC/ST students' hostels
Bengaluru :The Karnataka High Court has initiated a voluntary Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in response to media reports highlighting staff shortages in hostels catering to SC/ST students under the purview of the Social Welfare Department.
The High Court has issued a notice to the Department in this regard.
The Division Bench of the High Court heard the PIL filed by the Registrar General of the High Court, prompted by an article published on December 7 in 'Taruna Bharat,' a Marathi daily from Belagavi.
Former Additional Advocate General Nitin Ramesh has been appointed as the amicus curiae to provide assistance to the court in the case.
The court has directed the registrar to furnish a copy of the PIL and other necessary documents related to the case.
The PIL, rooted in the media report, highlights the shortage of staff in hostels catering to pre-matriculation and post-matriculation SC/ST students.
Karnataka has 1,297 hostels for pre-matriculation students and 1,165 hostels for post-matriculation students operated by the Social Welfare Department.
However, the shortage of 1,200 wardens and superintendents has arisen due to irregular staff recruitment processes.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
