Thursday, September 26, 2019

Sh Ravi Prasad & 68 Ors Vs. Principal, Institution for the Blind, Lajpat Nagar-IV & Anr | Case No. 1046/1111/2019/07/ 6072-6081 | Dated:25.09.2019




In the Court of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities
National Capital Territory of Delhi
25-D, Mata Sundri Road, Near Guru Nanak Eye Centre, New Delhi-2
Phone: 011-23216003-04, Tele fax: 011-23216005,
[Vested with powers of Civil Court under the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016]


Case No. 1046/1111/2019/07/ 6072-6081             Dated:25.09.2019
Case No. 1088/1111/2019/08/        
Case No. 1126/1111/2019/09                                                     

In the matter of:

Sh Ravi Prasad and 3 Others
Institution for the Blind,
Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-4,
New Delhi-110024.                                                       ....Complainants        

Sh Rahul Kumar Sharma and five others,
Institution for the Blind,
Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-IV,
New Delhi-110024.                                                        ...Complainants


Sh. Pankaj, Sh. Shivam and 57 others                        ....Complainants

Versus
The Principal/ Vice Principal,
Institution for the Blind,
(Andh Vidyalaya)
Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-IV,
New Delhi-110024.                                              .…..Respondent No.1


The Station House Officer,
Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-4,
New Delhi-110024.                                                ....Respondent No. 2


Sh. Deepak Sharma,
S31- C, Private Colony,
Sri-Niwaspuri, New Delhi-110024                          ..... Respondent No. 3

The President / Secretary,
Institution for the Blind,                           
Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-4,
New Delhi-110024.                                                 .....Respondent No. 4

The Director,
Directorate of Education,
5 Shamnath Marg,
Old Sectt., Delhi-110054.                                       ....Respondent No. 5

The Director,
Deptt. of Social Welfare,
GLNS Complex, Delhi Gate,
Delhi-110002.                                                        ..... Respondent No. 6

Last date of Hearing : 16.09.2019
Present:     None for complainants

Sh. Surendra Pal Singh (Vice-Principal)
Sh. M.L.  Mongia, Vice President, Sh. G.S. Rathore (Joint Secretary)
Er.M.C. Garg, Office Secretary, Sh. Alok Kain, Manager  for the Institution for the Blind.

Sh. Deepak Sharma, respondent no. 3 in person

Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi, DDE (SE)  and Dr. A.K. Bhatt, DDE, Zone-25 for Respondent no. 5.

Dr. A. Madhavi, Deputy Director (Disb.)for respondent no. 6.

ORDER

          The above three complaints relate to the Institution for the Blind, Amar Colony Lajpat Nagar-4, New Delhi. The complainants and the respondents are common.  Therefore, these have been tagged and are being disposed of by this common order. 

Case No. 1046/1111/2019/07/

2.      Sh. Ravi Prasad, Sh. Raj Kumar, Sh. Mohan Lal and Sh. Lal Singh, teachers with blindness in the Institution for the Blind vide their joint complaint dated 17.07.2019 submitted that they have been working in the Institution for the Blind which is a school for the blind boys at Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-4, New Delhi-110024 since it started functioning in 1986.  The school is providing education and training as well as hostel facility to more than 100 students with blindness totally free of cost. The school is recognised by the Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi and is receiving 95% grand-in-aid for the teaching staff since 2010.  The other supporting staff receives their salary from the Management Committee.  For the past four years there has been a dispute between the two groups each claiming to be the real Management Committee   and the matter is pending in the Hon’ble High Court. The entire staff is in support of the Committee that has the signing authority and is registered with Registrar of Societies / Central District with Sh. Sunil Khurana as its President and Sh. Rakesh Gambhir as its General Secretary. They further submitted that the other group whose President is Sh. B.P. Mandal and Sh. V.S. Negi is the General Secretary, is the bogus Management Committee.  The said committee is being run by Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma, an 84 year old person with blindness who was an employee of the school for more than  50 years.  His elder son Sh. Deepak Sharma was also a member of the staff but was terminated in 2014.  He has many court cases pending against him and was also imprisoned.  Even after his termination, he  keeps visiting the school occasionally and creates nuisance with the students and staff.  Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma has also appointed his another son Sh. Rajiv Sharma as Vice-President of the bogus Management Committee. On 15.07.2019, Sh. Rajiv Sharma posted some unauthorised staff at their school gate and also hired some paid workers to work in the school kitchen and as sweepers and tried to take over the functioning of the school. 

3.      They alleged that bogus Management Committee banned the entry of the Vice-Principal of the school and other staff.  The entire staff submitted a joint complaint to the Police   and also informed Dy. Director of Education, South East Zone-25, Defence Colony on 15.07.2019.  It is also alleged that   Sh. Deepak Sharma had forcibly entered the school and engaged in heated arguments with the staff.  Later on during the meeting with SHO, Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar, he advised them to maintain peace till the decision of the Court. 

4.      They also submitted that they are living in a state of tension and fear.  Blind teachers are especially feeling threatened for their safety because of Sh. Deepak Sharma and his associates.  They requested to intervene and help to create secure environment in the school.

5.      The complaint was taken up vide Notice dated 14.08.2019 with the Principal/Vice Principal of Institution for the Blind,  SHO (Amar Colony) and Sh. Deepak Sharma. 

6.      Sh. S.P. Singh, Vice Principal, Institution for the Blind (Andh Vidyalaya) vide his reply dated 30.08.2019 and Sh. Rakesh Kr. Gambhir, General Secretary vide his reply dated 05.09.2019 made more or less the same submissions that students with blindness between the age of 5-15 years are admitted to class 1st  to 8th  and are imparted education and vocational training  alongwith lodging and boarding, medical facilities, transport  totally free of cost. Free hostel facility is provided to the students of class 9th  to 12th  who study under inclusive education in the nearby Hemu Kalani Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya.  After the students complete their 12th class, they leave the school and take admission in various colleges in Delhi.  All the students are receiving stipend and scholarship from Government every year. 

7.      It has been also stated that the students who have passed 12th class and those who are studying in class 9th  to 12th  have access to alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, tobacco products, gutka etc. and also freely mix up with minor students in the hostel.  There is already one case under POCSO Act where one inmate was jailed for sexually assaulting a minor child.  Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma alongwith his two sons Sh. Deepak Sharma and Rajiv Sharma and other associates have been trying to capture power and use the school funds and donations illegally. 

8.      Hon’ble High of Delhi granted a stay against illegal Management Committee which was constituted by Sh. Deepak Sharma.  The case was later transferred as CS ADJ No. 10919/16 titled “Institution for the Blind Vs Deepak Sharma & Ors” which is pending disposal before the Ld. Court of ADJ-1 (South East), Saket Court.

9.      It was also inter-alia alleged that Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma who claims to be the founder of the school, has allowed the boys who have passed class 12th  to continue to stay in the hostel which has been done with the malicious and evil intent. Such permission has never been granted.  Stay of boys who have passed 12th standard in the hostel is a threat to the security of young blind students of class 1st  to 8th  which should not be compromised. 

10.    The enclosures of the replies for the said respondents also include an order dated 29.07.2015  of Sh. K.S. Mehra, the former Commissioner for the Persons with Disabilities. That case was filed by Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Kalkaji and the respondents were Department of Social Welfare, Department of Education, GNCT of Delhi  and Land and Development Office, Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India, and the Management Committee.  The case was about removal of 30-40 blind children from the hostel and assault of Master Uma Kant Shukla by the then Caretaker Sh. Deepak Sharma in July 2007 and sexual assault case of 3 blind students. The then Commissioner observed that there was no logical / justifiable ground to stop the visually impaired students from staying in the hostel.  The outside sighted college students were used to force the students to leave the hostel.  The then Commissioner directed Principal Secretary, Education and Principal Secretary, Social Welfare to intervene and look into the issues ensuring that the visually impaired students did not suffer and be provided the hostel accommodation and other facilities.


Case No. 1088/1111/2019/08/

11.    Sh. Rahul Kumar Sharma, Sh. Raju Kumar Saha, Sh. Dinesh Kumar, Sh. Manoj Kumar, Sh. Anjesh Kumar and Sh. Shivam Mishra, six persons with visual impairment vide their complaint dated 13.08.2019 submitted that Sh. S.P. Singh , Vice Principal of the Institution for the Blind had issued them an Office Order dated 19.08.19 that the students of B.A. living in the hostel of the Institution should vacate their rooms by 26.08.2019.   They also enclosed copy of a Notice dated 07.01.2019  of Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma, Founder which reads, “in the capacity of the Founder of the Institution for the Blind, he allows the students of class 12th  to stay in the hostel till they complete their graduation”.  The complainants  further informed that Sh. Alok, Smt. Krishna Nirvan and Sh. Sohan Singh were also misbehaving with them. 

12.    The complaint was taken up with the respondents vide notice dated 26.08.2019 and it was recommended that the six students (Sh. Rahul Kumar Sharma and five others) should not be evicted from the hostel till further orders. 

Case No. 1126/1111/2019/09

13.    Another complaint had been filed by 59 students with visual impairment including Sh. Shivam Mishra one of the six complainants in Case No. 1088/1111/2019/08 on 13.08.2019 vide which they submitted that the students from class 1st to B.A. are staying in the hostel.  They had complained against the Manager of the School and alleged that false allegations are levelled against them and their videos had also been made.  They alleged that the police personnel did not listen to their complaints and children of class 1st  to 8th  were not getting proper education for which the staff and teachers were responsible as they were busy in their own meetings and politics.

14.    In view of the multiple complaints and counter complaints and as  the education and well being of young children with visual impairment was involved, I personally visited the Institution on 07.09.2019 at around 1.30 PM without intimating anyone. The classes were over by the time  I reached the Institution. I went to all the hostel rooms alongwith the Vice-Principal and other teachers and the staff available in the school.  Most of the children except 2-3, said that they were happy with the school, teachers, studies and the food.

15.      Some students of higher classes stated that the studies were getting affected due to the dispute between the two Management Committees and involvement of some teachers in it. 

16.    It was observed that most of the children,  particularly the senior ones including those who had completed 12th class had music systems in their rooms and I found them playing music in high volume in the rooms of young children.  The unclean environment in the rooms of senior students was apparent.     Some senior students had kept unauthorized articles like dining table, cupboards and other items in their rooms, though essential items like almirah have been provided to each student / hosteller.  The occupants appeared to be unconcerned about the cleanliness of the premises, their books, clothes and other belongings.  A few students of senior classes appeared to be completely bereft of common etiquettes. For example, despite being aware of the entry of the Vice-Principal, the male and female teachers in the room and myself duly introduced, one of the students kept talking while lying on his bed. Some of the students of class 11th and 12th did not seem to have attended the classes or missed some periods as they were in the hostel during the school time.   It was also found that some senior students had been accommodated in the rooms of young children.  I found the CCTV Control room locked.  The teachers informed that it was done by some students.   While the Institute has the infrastructure, it is poorly managed.

17.    On 09.09.2019, a team comprising three Officers of the Office of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities was deputed for another surprise visit without prior intimation to any party.  During their visit,  the teachers and other staff were available in the school.  They were told that senior students had persuaded younger ones to boycott  the classes. No class was going on during the school time.  The cleanliness of the kitchen, wash-rooms, surrounding areas was found to be satisfactory.  The team did not interact with the children to avoid any untoward incident in view of the tense environment prevailing in the school.

18.    On 11.09.2019, the Vice-Principal of the School called to inform that the students had locked all the class rooms including his room.  They were not able to conduct any academic activity in the school. The matter was also reported by them to the SHO, Amar Colony.  In the afternoon, I alongwith an officer visited the Institute and interacted with all the children studying / staying in the school hostel.  The students, except the smaller children studying in 1st and 3rd standard had a list of issues against the teachers and the present Management Committee.  2 to 3 students from each class were given the opportunity to express their difficulties or complaints.  During the interaction, it was observed that there was complete distrust, mismanagement and chaos in the school.  The students were not prepared to unlock the class rooms unless the Vice-Principal admitted that the teachers did not teach them properly and unless an assurance was given in writing that the teachers will  not miss the classes  and come regularly and will not organize any meetings, talk on telephone and use abusive language against them. They also demanded that the warden of the hostel be appointed and that the bed kept in the library room should be removed.  It seemed that there was complete breakdown of the school administration and academic environment.

19.    The matter was also brought to the notice of Directorate of Education who took necessary action to get the class rooms and other rooms unlocked. 

20.    In view of the emergent situation and indisciplined environment in the school, Director  (Education) and Director (Social Welfare Deptt.) were impleaded as respondent no. 5 & 6 in Case No. 1046/1111/2019/07 and Case No. 1088/1111/2019/08. 

21.    The complaint dated 13.08.2019 of the students was also tagged and a common hearing was scheduled on 12.09.2019.

22.    During the hearing on 12.09.2019, a copy of the order dated 02.07.2015 of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in CS (O.S.) No. 1845 of 2015 in the matter of Institution for the Blind and Others (Plaintiffs) Versus Deepak Sharma & Others (Defendants) was produced in which the memo of the parties is as under:

Memo of Parties

1.   Institute for the Blind
having its regd. Office at Punchuian Road,
Near R.K. Ashram Metro Station Pillar No. 24
New Delhi-110001
Also having its branch office at
Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-IV,
New Delhi.
Through its President
Sh. Sunil Khurana

2.   Sh. Sunil Khurana
S/o Late Sh. Somnath
President of Institute for the Blind
R/o, R-665, New Rajinder Nagar,
New Delhi.

3.   Sh. R.K. Kakkar
S/o Late Sh. Lajpat Rai Kakkar,
General Secretary of Institution for the Blind
R/o, E-77A, South Anarkali,
P.O. Krishna Nagar, Delhi.

4.   Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma
S/o Late Sh. Ram Chand Sharma,
R/o 22A, Pocket-II, Double Storey,
Pashim Puri, New Delhi
Converner and Sole Founder
Institution for the Blind

5.   Sh. Brij Mohal Upreti
S/o Late Sh. Bal Kishan Upreti
Vice President of Institution for the Blind
R/o F-21, Punchkuian Road,
New Delhi-110001


6.   Sh. Rakesh Gambhir
S/o Late Sh. Roshan Lal
Jt. Secretary of Institution for the Blind
R/o D-57, East of Kailash,
New Delhi-110065

7.   Sh. R.K. Sharma,
S/o Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma
Jt. Secretary of Institution for the Blind
R/o 22A, Pocket-II, Double Storey
Paschim Puri, New Delhi                         ….. Plaintiffs
Versus
1.   Sh. Deepak Sharma
S/o Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma

2.   Smt. Prerna Sharma
W/o Sh. Deepak Sharma,
Both R/o S-31/C, Pvt. Colony,
Shri Niwas Puri,New Delhi

3.   Er. M.C. Garg,
S/o Late Sh. K.C. Garg
R/o E-180, Harmoni Apartment,
Pocket-1, DDA SFS Flats,
Sector-IV, Dwarka,
New Delhi-110063.    

4.   Sh. B.P. Mandal
S/o Not Known  
R/O D-71, Amar Colony,
New Delhi-24

5.   Shri R.P. Bhatia
S/o not known
R/o 3/62, double storey,
Lajpat Nagar-IV, New Delhi

6.   Sh. Nirdesh Sharma,
S/o not known
R/o A-4/54, Paschim Vihar,
New Delhi.

7.   Sh. Girish Gautam
S/o not known
R/o S-30, Pvt. Colony,
Shri Niwas Puri,New Delhi-110065

8.   Sh. Vinod Kumar
S/o not known
R/o F-57, B.K. Dutt Colony
Ground floor,Near New Khanna Market,
New Delhi

9.   Sh. Raghav Pal
S/o not known
R/o D-71, Terrace Floor
Amar Colony, New Delhi


10.               Smt. Sujata Bhatia
                    W/o not known
                    R/o 5/40, Nirmal Puri,
                    New Delhi -110024.

11.               Sh. Harpal Singh
                   S/o not known
R/o 110, Old Gupta Colony
New Delhi

12.               Sh. Raj Kumar
S/o not known
R/o 230, Sunlight Colony
New Delhi

13.               Naresh Kashyap,
S/o Not Known,
R/O 198/19, Ramesh Mkt,
Garhi, New Delhi

14.                 Harish Kumar
Deep Sweet Corner
At 74, Bharat Nagar,
New Delhi – 110025

15.                  Smt. Neelam Kumari
W/o not known
J-3, House No.62
IInd Floor, Sujan Singh Park,
New Delhi – 110003

16.                   Sh. Vineet Kumar Sharma
S/o Sh. G.C. Sharma
R/o C-1/3, 3rd Floor,
Phase-I, Budh Vihar, Delhi

17.                  M/s Santosh Singh Facilities Services Pvt. Ltd.
Office at:177, Okhla Phase-II
New Delhi-110020
Through its A.R.
Sh. Santosh Singh                         …. Defendants

23.    Hon’ble High Court vide interim order dated 02.07.2015, restricted the defendants from disturbing the functioning of the ongoing Management Committee and the Institution for the Blind / School being managed and run by the Plaintiff No. 1 i.e. the Institute for the Blind at Amar Colony through the present Management Committee headed by Plaintiff No. 2 to 4 i.e. Sh. Sunil Khurana, President; Sh. R.K. Kakkar, General Secretary and Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma, Convener and Sole Founder. The parties did not produce any order quashing or staying the said order dated 02.07.2015 of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. 

24.    Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi, Dy. Director of Education, District South East informed that all the class rooms and other facilities which were locked by the students had been opened and restored and an enquiry committee of three principals was also constituted to enquire into the matter. 

25.    After hearing the children of various classes studying in the school and those staying in the hostel and the representatives of the parties, the following recommendations were made for immediate action:

(i)           Proper and quality education of children of class 1st  to 8th  should be ensured by the Head of School / Principal/Vice-Principal by ensuring deployment and strict supervision of the teachers during the school hours. 
(ii)          HOS/ Principal/ Vice-Principal should ensure that the children have enough opportunity to play during the fixed hours and also for extracurricular activities. 
(iii)        Dy.Director, Education, (South East District) should ensure  regular monitoring and  compliance with the relevant rules / guidelines in connection with teaching and learning. 
(iv)        Children of class 1st  to 5th  and class 6th  to 8th  should be accommodated on one portion of the hostel.  The students of Class 9th  to 12th  should be accommodated on other portion of the hostel.   The hostel should be run on the standard practices followed by residential schools like Navodaya Vidyala Samiti. 
(v)         Six students who  have passed 12th Class should be accommodated with the students of Class 11th  & 12th till 30.09.2019 by which date they should make their own arrangement. Department of Social Welfare may consider accommodating them in the Sewa Kutir Complex.
(vi)        HOS/Principal/Vice-Principal was directed to issue Notices to Sh. Rahul Kumar Sharma, Sh. Raju Kumar Saha, Sh. Dinesh Kumar, Sh. Manoj Kumar, Sh. Anjesh Kumar and Sh. Shivam Mishra  to vacate the hostel by 30.09.2019 as Sh. Banshi Lal, had no authority to provide the facility of the hostel in the Institution for the Blind to the students who have passed 12th Class.    The purpose for which the Institution for the Blind was set up also does not provide for such facilities.
(vii)      Sh. Deepak Sharma who claimed that order dated 02.07.2015 of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi has since been quashed is directed to submit a copy of such order by 12 Noon on 13.09.2019.
(viii)     All the concerned parties namely Vice-Principal of the School, current Managing Committee, Directorate of Education and Department of Social Welfare should submit copies of the constitution of the Institution for the Blind at Amar Colony / any other papers indicating the purpose for which that institution was set up and the decision of the competent authority to use the premises as hostel for students of class 9th  to 12th  studying in other schools so that the matter can be disposed of.
(ix)        HOS/ Principal / Vice- Principal should issue a circular to all the teaching and non-teaching staff to perform their duties and also to students for concentrating on their studies and well being.
(x)         HOS should get CCTV control room unlocked.  In case the students who have the key of the lock,  do not hand over the key, the lock may be broken and the system be made functional and monitored regularly .
(xi)        It should be ensured that all the CCTV Cameras are  functional and strict vigil by security guards must  be ensured.  Anybody fiddling with the instruments should be proceeded as per the law.
(xii)      Keys of the vehicles stated to have been retained by the students be also taken back and they should be advised not to repeat such unlawful activities in future.
(xiii)     The cases of any incidents which are against the interest of the students studying in the school, should be brought to the notice of Directorate of Education.
(xiv)     If required, Child Welfare Committee should be involved in connection with any issues relating to the welfare of children with visual impairment studying / staying in the school.

26.    An action taken report on the above recommendations was sought to be submitted on or before the next date of hearing on 16.09.2019 at 3.00 PM.

27.    Sh. S.P. Singh , Vice President filed an action taken report dated 16.09.2019 which reads as under:
“Sub: Action Taken Report on your recommendations.

Respected Sir,

With Reference to the recommendations by you after hearing our case on 12.09.2019 at 03.00 pm, I have taken the following actions:

1.   I read out your recommendations to the 6 students who have out of 12th standard this year issued notices to them to vacate the school hostel by 30th of September-2019.
2.   The CCTV control room has been opened by the staff since the students who had the key to the lock were not willing to return it.  The CCTV cameras are being made functional and they will be monitored on a daily basis. 

3.   I took along with me some teachers and other staff to the hostel to supervise the shifting of children into 3 separate sections- students of classes 1st to 5th in first section, students of classes 6th to 8th in section and students of 9th to 12th and B.A. in third section.  But we could not complete this work because within 10 minutes of our reaching the hostel, the older students started shouting and creating ugly scenes.  They started arguing about trifles and would not allow us to proceed in our work.  Some children tried to snatch our mobiles and one of them (Saif Ali, 11th Class) caught the collar of the Hostel Warden saying that they would not allow anyone to take photographs or videos in the hostel.  Later when we came back to the Principal’s room, some of the leaders of the students came to meet us and told us that the students had unanimously rejected the orders of the Commissioner and they would not allow anyone to shift students in the hostel. They raised objections about the use of the word “Recommendations” in the order issued by the Commissioner.  According to them, the Commissioner had only given recommendations and not issued any orders and therefore they are not bound to obey the recommendations.  I had noted down the names of some of the leaders of the mob of unruly students among whom are the following:

1.   Pankaj Modi, 12th Class, DOB: 15.01.2002
2.   Shivam Mishra, B.A 1st Year, DOB: 05.10.2000
3.   Deepak Pal, 11th Class, DOB: 22.05.2002
4.   Shankar Mandal, 12th Class, DOB: 12.01.1999
5.   Ankur Kumar, 12th Class, DOB: 13.07.2001
6.   Rahul Kumar, 8th Class, DOB: 16.06.2005
7.   Rajesh Kumar Mandal, 7th Class, DOB: 17.02.2008
8.   Arvind Kumar, 7th Class, DOB: 27.03.2005
9.   Nawab Khan, 9th Class, DOB: 01.04.2005
10.       Saif Ali, 11th Class, DOB: 10.05.2000
These leaders of the older students have been creating nuisance and defying the school administration for the past one year and more so during the last one month.  My request to you is that suitable action may be taken immediately so that your orders may be carried out in full.

Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,

(S.P.Singh)
Vice Princiapl (HOS)”

28.    A written submission dated 16.09.2019 on behalf of Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma, Founder  and Er. M.C. Garg, Office Secretary were also filed claiming to be the Management Committee of the Institute. 

29.    During the hearing on 16.09.2019 Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi DDE (SE) and Dr. A.K. Bhatt, DDE (Zone-25) on behalf of respondent No. 5 informed that the monitoring of the school is being ensured and the Principal / Vice-Principal has been directed to strictly follow the guidelines. 

30.    Dr. A. Madhavi, Dy.Director (Disability), who appeared on behalf of respondent No. 6, informed that the Institution for the Blind, Amar Colony was registered under the erstwhile Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 and it has yet to be registered under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.  She informed that the Department is also facing difficulty in managing the hostel for the students with blindness.   As per the Agreement for Lease between the President of India and Secretary, Institution for the Blind, signed by the then Dy. Land & Development Officer, Land and Development Office, New Delhi, 0.776 acre of land was allocated for a building for Institution for the Blind.

31.    The representatives of the two groups claiming to be the real Management Committee members reiterated their respective submissions most of which are the subject matter of the cases pending before various courts.

32.    After perusal of the record and hearing the parties,  it is observed that neither the constitution of the Institute mentions about providing hostel facilities  nor has any party produced any guidelines for the same.

33.    It is also apparently clear that the institution was being run in a very informal and adhoc manner without following any rules / guidelines.  The concerned authorities also seem to have turned their eyes away and ignored the mismanagement for the reasons best known to them.  It is also observed that after the order dated 02.07.2015 of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi restraining Sh. Deepak Sharma, Smt. Prerna Sharma, Sh. MC. Garg and others from disturbing the functioning of the ongoing Managing Committee  headed by Sh. Sunil Khurana, Sh. R.K. Kakar and Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma, the said ongoing Managing Committee in its meeting on 09.02.2017, decided that the election of the Managing Committee may be conducted on 06.03.2017 for the following posts:
i)             President                      1
ii)            Vice-President             2
iii)          General Secretary       1
iv)          Joint Secretaries                   2
v)           Treasure                       1
vi)          Executive Member      10
Total                              17
34.    Sh. Santosh Kumar Rungta (Sr. Advocate) was appointned as election officer  and the following office bearers and members were elected for the period of 06.03.2017 to 05.03.2020 at Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-IV, New Delhi:
S.No.
Designation
Name Replaced
New Name
1.
President

Sh. Sunil Khurana
2.
Vice President

Ms. Vidya Chauhan
3.
Vice President
Sh. R.K. Kakar
Sh. M.L. Mongia
4.
General Secretary

Sh. Rakesh Gambhir
5.
Joint Secretary

Sh. G.S. Rathore
6.
Joint Secretary

Sh. Govind Singh
7.
Treasurer
Sh. Vinay Diwan
Sh. R.K. Kakar

Member:
1.   Ms. Megha Khanna
2.   Sh. Anil Ghai
3.   Sh. Gurmeet
4.   Sh. Amar Kumar
5.   Sh. Rohit Jain
6.   Sh. Rakesh Kumar
7.   Sh. Gagan

35.    The fresh Managing Committee did not include Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma and Sh. Rakesh Gambhir  was elected as General Secretary in place of Sh. R.K. Kakar who was elected as the Treasurer.  I am not going into the question whether election of the office bearers was appropriate when Hon’ble High Court of Delhi had passed the order dated 02.07.2015.

36.    In view of the fact that the education and well being of the children with visual impairment  of class 1st to 8th is being adversely impacted and its restoration is paramount, the following directions / recommendations  are made for implementation by the concerned authorities / parties:

(i)           In view of the order dated 02.07.2015 of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi and there being no stay on the said order, Sh. Sunil Khurana as President, Sh. R.K. Kakar  as General Secretary and Sh. Bansi Lal Sharma should run the affairs of the school, hostel or any other activity going on in the premises of the land allotted by the Land and Development Office, Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India to the Institution for the Blind.  They should take decisions by consensus failing which by the majority decision but must not delay any decision to the detriment of the children with visual impairment studying in the school.  They should also ensure efficiency and complete transparency in the functioning of the school, hostel and other activities.  If they do not wish to carry out their duties, they should resign and Directorate of Education and Department of Social Welfare shall take appropriate action to ensure education and wellbeing of the children with visual impairment in the Institute.
(ii)       The other group, as already restrained by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, should not interfere or disturb the functioning of the institute  in any manner whatsoever including by visiting the institute or deploying any  staff in the premises of the Institute for the Blind.
(iii)   The present Managing Committee should report any incident of disturbance / interference by anyone to the SHO (Amar Colony) / DCP, South East District,  who should take prompt action as per the law. 
(iv)        The education and well being of the children with visual impairment  studying in class 1st  to 8th  is of paramount importance and therefore the present Managing Committee headed by Sh. Sunil Khurana and other concerned authorities namely Directorate of Education and Deptt. of Social Welfare must concentrate on ensuring the quality of education and well being of those children. 
(v)         The present Managing Committee through the Principal/Vice-Principal  and other employees of the Institute must ensure that regular classes are conducted and quality teaching and learning happens alongwith extra-curricular activities strictly in accordance with the norms / guidelines of the Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi.  
(vi)        The present Managing Committee  should ensure appointment of warden(s) within one month from the date of receipt of this order if not already appointed,  to ensure peaceful stay, security and well being of the children of class 1st  to 8th  as per their placement in the hostel vide Para 4 of the RoP dated 12.09.2019.
(vii)      As none of the parties has produced copy of any decision allowing students of class 9th  to 12th  studying outside, to stay in the hostel within the premises of the institute, Director, Social Welfare should constitute a committee comprising an officer from Department of Social Welfare, an officer from Directorate of Education to be nominated by Director of Education, one of the members  of the present Managing Committee, Principal / Vice Principal of the School, the present / past warden(s) as one of the members, an officer with relevant experience to be nominated by Director, National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD), Dehradun and a senior functionary of National Association for the Blind, R.K. Puram, New Delhi who also run a School and Hostel for students with visual impairment to make recommendations whether the facility of hostel for students of 9th to 12th class should be continued.  If it is recommended to provide the facility, the committee should also frame guidelines for running of the hostel. The Committee should submit its recommendations and the guidelines by 15th October, 2019 and Department of Social Welfare should issue the guidelines to be followed by the Institute.
(viii)     On the recommendations of the Committee a decision whether to continue the hostel facility for  the students of class 9th  to 12th  who are not studying in the School,  should be taken by the present Managing Committee by 31.10.2019.  If it is decided to continue to provide the facility of the hostel to students of class 9th  to 12th, then the present Managing Committee shall make arrangement for a separate entry and exit to the hostel for those students and the warden must ensure that the senior students of class 9th  to 12th  do not enter  the hostel rooms of the students of class 1st  to 8th.  They could interact during the extra-curricular activities, in the library and dining hall.  The well being of the hostellers and purpose of the provision of the hostel must be fulfilled.  It should not be used just as shelter.
(ix)        The present Managing Committee is also directed to approach all the concerned Court(s) where the issues concerning the Institute for the Blind (Andh Vidyalaya) are pending, for an early hearing and disposal of the cases and convey the request of this Court for the same to the concerned courts so that the education and well being of the children with visual impairment of class 1st to 8 is not adversely affected due to infighting between the groups wanting to have the control of the affairs of the Institute.      
(x)         Warden(s) must function under the supervision of the Principal / Vice-Principal and multiplicity of the command and control must be avoided.
(xi)        Parents of senior students who locked the class rooms in the school and instigated young children to boycott   the classes, should be immediately contacted and called / informed to counsel their wards.  The school and the hostel as already recommended vide RoP dated 12.09.2019,  must be run strictly as per the  guidelines issued by the Directorate of  Education, the practices followed by the residential Navodya Vidyalayas and other well known residential schools and the recommendations that may be made by the Committee recommended vide Para 36(vii).
(xii)       The present Managing Committee and the Principal / Vice-Principal should obtain the correct name and contact details of the parent / guardian / local guardian of each student studying / staying within the premises of the Institute for the Blind within a week of the receipt of this order and verify the same by contacting them on telephone by 15.10.2019 and submit a confirmation to this effect to this Court, the Directorate of Education and Department of Social Welfare  by 20.10.2019. 
(xiii)     The students who do not comply with the direction to shift to the  rooms allotted to them in the hostel,  should be counselled and advised to comply, if necessary with the help of their parents before resorting to any disciplinary action.  All concerned are directed to ensure compliance.
(xiv)     Status after vacation of the hostel by the students who have  passed 12th class be submitted by 03.12.2019.
(xv)      The academic functioning of the school should continue to be monitored by DDE (South East), Defence Colony and DDE (Zone-25), Directorate of Education and any laxity on the part of the staff should be dealt as per the prescribed rules. 
(xvi)     The Directorate of Education may also consider taking over the Institute on top priority in view of the fact that the school has not been functioning properly for a very long time and the education and lives of young children with visual impairment are at stake.  Possibility of appointing an Administrator should also be considered by the Directorate of Education as per rules. 
(xvii)   Dy. Commissioner of Police (South East),   who was also contacted on phone during the hearing on 12.09.2019 and the SHO (Amar Colony) who appeared during the hearing on 16.09.2019,  are advised to take action on the complaints, if and when received, strictly according to the law.  This recommendation is being made as it is observed that the police try to avoid taking action because children / staff with disabilities are involved.  I would like to make it clear that the rule of law must prevail irrespective of who is involved.  Therefore, while the police should use best of their counselling skills,    they should not hesitate to take action as per the law to ensure that the rights of the other children / staff with disabilities are not infringed and protected at all cost.
(xviii)  Department of Social Welfare shall constitute as early as possible, a Committee comprising a Psychologist, Special Education Teacher (VI) from a Special School for the Blind / Inclusive School having students with visual impairment and one officer each dealing with school administration in the Directorate of Education and the Department of Social Welfare which shall counsel the children studying / staying in the school / hostel and submit by 15th October,2019 a report alongwith recommendations if any  to the Directorate of Education and Department of Social Welfare who shall take immediate action on such recommendations.

37.   The action taken on the above recommendations / directions be informed to this Court within three months from the date of receipt of this order as required under Section 81 of the Act.

38.         The complaints are disposed of accordingly.

39.         Given under my hand and the seal of the Court this  25th  day of September,2019.     


           (T.D. Dhariyal)
                      State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities

Copy to:     Director, National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with  Visual Disabilities (Divyangjan), NIEPVD (Under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities,
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India),
116, Rajpur Road, Dehradun – 248001, Uttarakhand, India
Tel.:   0135-2744491 Email ID:
director@nivh.org.in  with the request to nominate an officer of appropriate level as one of the members of the Committee as recommended vide Para 36(vii)and provide his / her contact details to the Director, Social Welfare, GNCT of Delhi, GLNS Complex, Delhi Gate, New Delhi-110002 by 30.09.2019.  The TA/DA of the nominated Officer may be borne by NIEPVD.



           (T.D. Dhariyal)
                      State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities







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