New Delhi, June 16 (IANS): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued notice to the Delhi government on the "pathetic" condition of its 720 schools, calling for a detailed report within four weeks.

The commission in a statement said it had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting a survey exposing the pathetic state of affairs prevailing in 720 schools of the Delhi government.

"According to this, the government schools faced shortage of teachers and lacked clean drinking water and toilets facilities. Sometimes, teachers consumed alcohol during duty hours," the NHRC statement said.

The notice had been issued to the chief secretary, government of Delhi.

"Not only this, on many occasions, teachers and principals verbally abused students and their parents as well. Facilities for computer education were almost non-existent. The schools had either no computers or just one for all the students. There were major security lapses within the schools," the NHRC said.

The commission said that according to the media report, the survey was conducted by the Delhi government's education department.

"It is based on the suggestions made by the students to improve the government schools pursuant to an initiative by the deputy chief minister of Delhi," it added.