NHRC seeks report from Punjab government over absence of Independence Day celebrations in schools

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a detailed report from the Punjab government over a complaint alleging that Independence Day celebrations were not held in government schools in parts of the state.

The complaint was taken up by a bench headed by NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo. The allegations primarily concern government schools in rural, remote and border areas. According to the complaint, if Independence Day celebrations were not held in these schools, students may have been deprived of an opportunity to participate in the national day celebrations.

The commission has asked the Punjab government to provide details of how Independence Day was observed in government schools across the state on August 15. It has sought information at the state, district and school levels.

The report should include the number of schools where the national flag was hoisted, the number of schools where the national anthem was sung and the number of schools in which students participated in the Independence Day celebrations, the commission said.

The NHRC has also directed the government to identify schools where the prescribed programmes were not conducted and explain the reasons for this. It has specifically asked the authorities to examine the situation in rural, remote and border areas and clarify whether children in these regions were provided opportunities comparable to those available to students in other parts of the state.

The commission observed that national occasions such as Independence Day provide children with an important opportunity to learn about India's freedom struggle, the Constitution, national symbols, civic duties, national unity and democratic values.

The bench has directed the Punjab Chief Secretary to submit a detailed action-taken report within four weeks. The commission has also sought relevant information from the Union Ministry of Education.