Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has ordered status quo on the merger of council-run primary schools in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district, offering temporary relief to affected students and parents. The directive came after hearings on two separate appeals filed by children from Sitapur, challenging the state government's broader school consolidation policy.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh issued the order on Thursday, scheduling the next hearing for August 21. The appeals contest a July 7 ruling by a single-judge bench that upheld the government’s merger policy.
Petitioners argued that the move violates the Right to Free and Compulsory Education under the RTE Act, 2009, by forcing younger students to travel longer distances to reach their new assigned schools.
The state’s June 16 order mandates merging primary schools with low enrollment into nearby upper primary or composite schools. The government has maintained that the policy aims to rationalize resources and improve education quality, especially in schools with zero or negligible student attendance. Officials cited data showing that 18 primary schools in Sitapur had no students at all.
However, during Thursday’s hearing, the court took note of alleged procedural irregularities in the merger documents presented by the state. Senior advocate Dr. L.P. Mishra and advocate Gaurav Mehrotra, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the merger order lacks transparency and fails to account for the logistical and educational challenges faced by young children.
In response, Additional Advocate General Anuj Kudesia and Standing Counsel Shailendra Kumar Singh, representing the state, defended the policy as being in the long-term interest of educational reform. They contended that consolidating underutilized schools would allow for better teacher deployment, improved infrastructure use, and enhanced learning outcomes.
The High Court’s interim order halts merger proceedings in Sitapur until the matter is heard in full, signaling a cautious approach to school consolidation efforts.
While the state’s broader objective remains improving education delivery, the court's intervention highlights the need for safeguards to protect children's access to nearby, quality schooling.
Uttar Pradesh News: Allahabad HC Halts Eviction Of Janeshwar Mishra Trust From 7 Vikramaditya Marg BungalowThe outcome of the August hearing could influence similar merger plans in other districts, as the case taps into the delicate balance between policy efficiency and grassroots educational equity.
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