Karnataka Lokayukta Initiates Suo Motu Case After Bagalkot School Roof Collapse
The Karnataka Lokayukta has taken suo motu cognisance of an incident where a portion of a government school roof collapsed in Mugulolli Tanda of Bagalkot taluk, injuring eight students while classes were in progress. Lokayukta Justice B.S. Patil initiated the proceedings on September 3 based on media reports of the collapse.
Notices have been issued to senior officials of the School Education and Literacy Department, including the Additional Chief Secretary, Commissioner, and Additional Commissioner. Furthermore, notices were sent to the Bagalkot Deputy Commissioner, the Chief Executive Officer of the Bagalkot Zilla Panchayat, the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), and the concerned Block Education Officer (BEO).
The Lokayukta has directed the concerned officials to appear in person before the authority by October 7 to submit a report detailing the circumstances of the collapse and the subsequent measures taken. Additionally, the Lokayukta police have been ordered to conduct a safety audit of government schools across Bagalkot district, focusing on structural conditions, safety standards, and basic infrastructure.
Details of the Incident and Suspensions
The roof collapse occurred on September 2 in a classroom at the government school in Mugulolli Tanda. Eight children sustained injuries and were transported to the district hospital for treatment. According to the district administration, all eight students have since been discharged.
Following the incident, departmental action was taken against officials responsible for the upkeep and safety certification of the school. The school's in-charge head teacher, C.B. Helavar, was suspended by Deputy Director of School Education R.S. Sitaramu under Rule 10(1) of the Karnataka Civil Services Rules, 1957, for alleged dereliction of duty. Officials noted that the classroom roof was undergoing repair, but the matter had not been reported to the education department, and the head teacher failed to ensure necessary precautions were taken.
The Panchayat Raj Engineering Department (PRED) also faced disciplinary action. Assistant Executive Engineer S.M. Revadi and Junior Engineer S.M. Sanganal were suspended by Bagalkot Zilla Panchayat CEO Gajanan Bale for allegedly failing to properly certify the fitness of the school building. Show-cause notices have also been issued to the DDPI, BEO, and the Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer.
Safety Measures and District-Wide Inspections
To ensure student safety, the district administration has announced immediate and long-term measures. Students in Classes 4 to 6 are being temporarily relocated to a Karnataka Public School situated approximately 1.5 kilometres away, with the education department covering transportation costs. Students in Classes 1 to 3 will continue their lessons in safe classrooms at the Mugulolli LT School.
The administration plans to construct four new classrooms at the Mugulolli school. Two will be built by the Education Department, and two will be constructed under the VBGRAMG scheme. Additionally, a comprehensive structural reassessment of all 9,449 classrooms in Bagalkot district has been ordered. This assessment, involving the PRED, Public Works Department (PWD), and third-party inspectors, is expected to be completed within a month.
An emergency meeting was held on September 3 with officials from the PWD, PRED, Rural Water Supply department, and all BEOs to review school campus safety. The administration has also directed the Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) to identify and remove high-tension electricity lines passing over or through school campuses across the district.
The incident has raised questions regarding the effectiveness of previous building safety inspections. While the administration had earlier identified 628 school buildings across the district as unfit, the Mugulolli Tanda school was not included in that list, raising concerns over the quality of the initial structural assessments.
