HC questions welfare dept on shabby state of hostels

Vijayawada, April 26: The AP High Court pulled up the State government for the poor facilities being provided in social welfare hostels. During the hearing of a petition filed on fee reimbursement on Monday, Justice Battu Devanand shoot several questions to K Harshavardhan, the director of social welfare department. 

Stating that there are only two toilets and three bathrooms for about 136 girl students, Justice Devanand asked Harshavardhan why the government, which is spending Rs 9,000 crore every year on social welfare, failed to provide proper facilities to the students.

“One can understand the pitiable condition of the students, where 36 are forced to live in a room which can accommodate only 10 people.” The Justice also wondered why the government failed to construct additional floor to a hostel with Rs 16 lakh. 

Bhuma Shobha Nagi Reddy Memorial College, Allagadda, Secretary Shaik Raheem Basha moved the high court seeking to issue fee reimbursement of 2018-19 academic year. Justice Devanand questioned the social welfare director why the welfare department is working as nodel agency in fee reimbursement issue, which belongs to education department.