Info panel directs all schools to make safety certificates public

Times of India: Chandigarh: Wednesday, 05 August 2020.

Expressing apprehension that many schools in the state both private and government might not be complying with the laid down standards of building and fire safety norms, putting safety of children and staff at risk, the Punjab state information commission (PSIC) has directed all the schools to their make safety certificates public.

The direction was issued by state information commissioner Khushwant Singh while hearing a case filed by an Amritsar resident Kamaldeep Kaur who had sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act from Amritsar’s Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan-cum-district education officer about building safety and fire safety certificate and school affiliation and recognition certificate of one particular school.

The bench observed that it is evident from the ongoing hearings of the case that some schools whether they are private, government-aided or government-run may not be meeting and complying with the prescribed standards of building and fire safety norms set by the appropriate authority.

The bench noted that human safety is more important than the services they provide and parents have the right to know that the school where their ward is going is safe and has a valid affiliation with a school board to run its day-today operations.

Even though fire, building safety and board affiliation certificates issued by the competent authorities come under the preview of RTI Act, the commission contended that there is urgent need to bring transparency as these certificates should be a matter of suo moto declaration rather than being confined in record rooms, only to be sought under the RTI Act.

Keeping safety of students and staff in mind, the bench under section 19 (8) of the RTI Act directed that all the valid certificates of fire and building safety and board affiliations be declared suo moto by all the schools in Punjab on their websites and notice boards with no exceptions. The certificates should be latest, legible and valid. Schools not having websites have been asked to display certificates on the notice board.

Schools have been directed not to evade sharing the status even if they are not complying. All district education officers (DEOs) have been instructed to ensure the compliance of the order, failing which they will be held responsible. DEOs will also upload the information on their respective departmental websites, including the name of the schools that are not compliant.

Punjab school education secretary has been asked to ensure effective monitoring, supervision, and dissemination of the order to all the concerned DEOs.