New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed its displeasure that government did not respond to its order on the "serious" issue of ensuring that all schools and hostels of educational institutions should be kept away from the occupation of security forces.
The apex court by its September 1 and November 15 orders had asked the Centre to "clearly state as to how many of the educational institutions in the country are under the occupation of security forces/para military forces".
"You cannot allow the schools and colleged under the occupation of the security forces," a Bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar said and asked the Defence, Home and Human Resource Development Ministries to respond within four weeks.
"It is a very serious issue," the Bench said and made it clear that the role of the Centre was more important on the issue as the CRPF, CISF etc are central forces and not the forces of the state governments.
The apex court had on September 1 passed the order while hearing on an issue relating to trafficking of 76 children from Manipur and Assam to Tamil Nadu.
The directions were passed on the recommendations of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) which was asked by the court to inquire into the trafficking of children from Manipur and Assam to Tamil Nadu on the pretext of providing them better education.
The bench had also asked Manipur, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka to respond to the recommendation of the NCPCR to shut down unregistered charitable houses running schools and hostels. The apex court asked Manipur and Assam to file an affidavit in response to the suggestions given by NCPCR.
When it was pointed out that Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, being the destination states, have not responded to the notices, the Bench said "they are also required to file their affidavits".
While there was a specific direction to the Home Ministry to ensure that the schools and hostels be freed from the occupation of the Army and central paramilitary forces, the bench had asked the HRD Ministry to find out the list of schools occupied by the forces in two states.
Further, the bench asked the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) to hold meetings with seven North Eastern states on various aspects of development.
The court had accepted the plea of NCPCR seeking the authority to review the matter with the state government.
The names of the 76 children were furnished by Tamil Nadu government. They have been sent back home in two North Eastern states. The court had on March 31 asked NCPCR to inquire into the matter while hearing an application based on a media report about recovery of the 76 children.
Tamil Nadu government had earlier said the probe by the Kanyakumari Superintendent of Police has established that the 76 children from Manipur and Assam were brought to Tamil Nadu by one Rev Paul from north-eastern region on the promise of providing them better education.