THRC seeks documents on school safety audit petition
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, September 2, 2026
The Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC), headed by Justice Arindam Lodh, has directed a complainant seeking a statewide safety audit of government schools to submit relevant documents supporting the allegations.
The direction followed consideration of an email complaint submitted by Nemichand Meena, a social activist from Kalakhana in Rajasthan. The complaint urged the commission to intervene to safeguard the life, safety, health, dignity, privacy and educational rights of children studying in government schools across Tripura.
The complainant alleged that some government schools could have unsafe infrastructure and inadequate basic amenities, potentially exposing students to risks. It sought preventive intervention to address such concerns before any accident or other harm occurs.
The issues highlighted in the complaint included allegedly damaged or dilapidated school buildings, including roofs, walls, floors, staircases and boundary walls. Concerns were also raised over electrical installations and playground equipment.
The complaint further referred to the availability of safe drinking water, functional separate toilets for boys and girls, sanitation and menstrual hygiene facilities, besides accessible infrastructure for students with disabilities.
Seeking an independent physical and technical audit, the complainant urged the THRC not to rely solely on departmental records or photographs for assessing school safety.
The proposed audit would cover fire and electrical safety, sanitation, playgrounds, kitchens, first-aid arrangements, disaster preparedness and accessibility. The complaint also sought school-wise and district-wise reports, identification of accountability in cases of negligence, Action Taken Reports and subsequent inspections.
It further requested classification of schools based on safety risks, immediate repair or reconstruction of unsafe structures and physical verification of compliance with infrastructure and safety requirements under the Right to Education Act.
The commission has not issued any direction on the substantive demands raised in the complaint at this stage. Instead, it has asked the complainant to furnish the relevant documents on which the allegations and requests were based.
The THRC has directed that the documents be submitted within the stipulated period and has listed the matter after 15 days.
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