The Bombay High Court has issued a directive to the Maharashtra government, requiring immediate medical intervention for tribal students engaged in a hunger strike in Pune. This directive was part of the case Ashok Kavadu Meshram v. State of Maharashtra & Ors., which seeks to address the pressing concerns regarding inadequate infrastructure, safety risks, and unresolved issues within state-run tribal residential hostels.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad convened at 12:30 PM to deliberate on this urgent matter. The petitioner, Ashok Kavadu Meshram, a resident of Manjiri in Pune district, raised the issue before the court, underscoring the critical condition of the students involved in the protest.
Judicial Intervention and Court’s Stance
The bench emphasized the immediate need to protect the lives of the students. “Ensure the well-being of those students who are fasting. Provide medical treatment if necessary. Should doctors recommend dietary interventions, proceed under medical supervision. We cannot afford the loss of even a single student,” the court asserted.
Representing the petitioner, the advocate highlighted the grave situation at the Government Tribal Hostel in Pune district. “The condition is dire, and their lives are at risk,” he stated, warning that unresolved grievances could potentially ignite widespread protests across Maharashtra.
Highlighted Incidents of Systemic Failures
To emphasize the systemic issues plaguing tribal institutions, the counsel referenced several recent incidents, including:
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- A student fatality and severe food poisoning cases at an ashram school in Amravati.
- Food contamination affecting 22 minor students in Thane’s Shahapur taluka.
- Student fatalities due to snake bites at a residential hostel in Yavatmal district.
Government’s Response and Court’s Directions
Advocate General Milind Sathe informed the court of the government’s prompt actions. He noted that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had convened a high-level meeting with the Minister of Tribal Development, departmental secretaries, and student representatives to address these concerns.
Sathe assured that the minutes from this meeting would be submitted to the court on August 31. In its ruling, the High Court mandated that the state must take immediate measures to protect the health of the protesting students. “The State shall ensure that all affected students receive timely and adequate medical assistance… and if recommended by doctors, they should be hospitalized to receive medical treatment and food under medical advice,” the court ordered.
The case is scheduled for further hearing on August 31, Monday, where the court will review the state’s compliance with its directives.
