Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Saturday reprimanded Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar for the “delay” in releasing funds for six government schools, and asked him to expedite the process and ensure the release the funds by March 6.
The Minister directed the CS to make sure that all departments concerned–Education Department, PWD and Finance Department work 24 hours for the next four days so that the payment is released on March 6.
Expressing “displeasure” over the CS’s request to seek further four weeks to resolve the issue, Atishi, in a direction to him, said: “Asking for further time would be inappropriate and would seem disrespectful to the High Court.”
While fixing the timeline, so that the payment is done, the minister in her note to the CS said: “It will be the personal responsibility of the Chief Secretary to ensure that these timelines are adhered to,” an official statement said.
The matter came up for hearing before the Delhi High Court on 20th November and 5th December, 2023 and 4th January, 2024 and 1st February. The High Court in its order dated 1st February said, “Let a copy of this order along with relevant files be placed by the Chief Secretary, GNCTD before the Chief Minister.”
The next date of hearing in Delhi High Court is 6th March.
In November 2023, a social rights group filed a public interest litigation in Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Government of NCT of Delhi to hand over possession of the six newly constructed school buildings to the Delhi Government schools.
The petitioner has also sought directions to the government of NCT of Delhi to approve the payment of Rs 166.20953 lakhs to the PWD so as to complete the handover as well as possession of the six newly constructed school buildings.