The Telangana High Court has expressed deep anger over the food poisoning incident at Maganur Zilla Parishad High School in Narayanpet district. It responded severely by asking, “Are the officials sleeping?” It questioned what the officials were doing if food poisoning happened three times in a week.
Chief Justice Justice Alok Aradhe said that food poisoning in schools is a very serious issue. Will they not respond even if children die?” The High Court questioned the government. It said that this incident is evidence of the negligence of the officials. It said that the government is not taking this issue seriously.
The government’s lawyer told the High Court that they would file a counter-affidavit on the incident within a week. It expressed anger. It questioned why it took a week to collect details. It questioned whether the officials would work only if the High Court ordered it. The High Court said that if a non-bailable warrant is issued, they will appear within five minutes.
The authorities have also been called upon to act with a humanitarian attitude. The AAG told the court that full details of the incident will be provided after the lunch break. A PIL was filed in the High Court alleging that the quality standards of mid-day meals are not being followed. Senior advocate Rikudu Prabhakar argued on behalf of the petitioner.
Prabhakar brought to the attention of the High Court that meals are often spoiled in schools across the state. It is known that food poisoning occurred on Tuesday at the ZP School in Manuguru, Narayanpet district. Children who had mid-day meals at the school fell ill. About 30 students suffered from vomiting, headache and stomach pain. They were immediately taken to Maktal Hospital. Food poisoning has occurred again in the school within a week.
Earlier, on the 20th, a hundred students fell ill due to food poisoning. Recently, food poisoning cases have been coming to light across the state. It is known that food poisoning also occurred at Wankidi Gurukul School in Kumrambheem Asifabad district. 60 students fell ill. In this incident, the condition of a student named Chaudhary Shailaja deteriorated and finally died while undergoing treatment.
Shailaja was treated at Wankidi Hospital on October 30 after vomiting and diarrhea at school. After that, when her condition deteriorated, she was treated at a private hospital in Mancherial and then shifted to NIMS in Hyderabad for better treatment. The student, who had been on a ventilator for almost 20 days, breathed her last last Monday.