GOVIND MATHUR,J. - (1.) Heard the petitioner through Sri Nadeem Murtaza, learned counsel as well as learned Standing Counsel for the State of U.P.
(2.) By order dated 28th March, 2018, a coordinate Bench of this Court took cognizance of the issue relating to deplorable condition of shoes distributed to school kids of Government run primary and upper primary schools of Uttar Pradesh.
(3.) While taking cognizance of the issue, the Court recorded its satisfaction to initiate writ proceedings in public interest litigation jurisdiction in following terms : "1. We are shocked by news published in the English newspaper "Hindustan Times" dated 28th March, 2018 reporting about the deplorable condition of shoes distributed to schools kids of Government run primary and upper primary schools of Uttar Pradesh in November, 2017. The report states that in a reality check done by Shri Rajeev Mullick. the correspondent of Hindustan Times at a Government run primary school in Lucknow's Jiamau area, the shoes which were distributed were found to be torn and tattered - the sole having worn out and in most cases the kids managing to hold the shoes together with rubber bands, laces etc. As per the report, the shoes were purchased in November, 2017 and distributed to the school going children in November, 2017 itself. The report states that the State Cabinet in October, 2017 had approved the free distribution of shoes, socks and sweaters to students of classes 1 to 8 and a sum of Rs.266 crores was earmarked for distribution of shoes/socks to about 1.54 crore students, the cost of each pair of shoes was Rs.135.75 while socks came at Rs.21.85 a pair. 2. We are astonished upon reading the said news item inasmuch as it appears that the noble cause of the Government of distribution of shoes and socks 1.54 crore students at a cost of Rs.266 crores has been completely defeated on account of the abysmal quality of the shoes and it thus appears that everything is not fine with the quality of shoes that have been purchased for being distributed to the school going children, the shoes having worn out of most of the children in four months! Thus the very purpose of the distribution of shoes to the students has been defeated on account of the extremely poor quality of the shoes purchased by the officials of the Government. It thus appears that the tax payers' money spent by the Government in an extremely noble cause has been wasted on account of the callous action on the part of the irresponsible officials which is prima faice apparent from the perusal of the report. 3. Keeping this in view and being anguished with the said report, we take up this matter as a Public Interest Litigation. Let this matter be registered as PIL "In the matter of U.P. Kids walk ''barefoot' to school" (Suo moto) (P.I.L.) vs. State of U.P. and others"." ;