Lucknow | July 8, 2025
In a major relief to the Yogi Adityanath-led government, the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench has upheld the state’s decision to merge nearly 5,000 government schools with low student enrollment. The court dismissed a petition filed by 51 students from Sitapur district who had challenged the move, calling it a violation of their Right to Education.
The High Court clarified that this is not a case of school closures, but of “pairing” — where smaller schools with fewer than 50 students are being linked to nearby better-equipped institutions to improve quality and access to education.
What the Court Said
- Not mandatory to have a school within 1 km: The bench, headed by Chief Justice Pankaj Bhatia, stated that the Constitution guarantees education under Article 21A but does not specifically mandate that a school must be located within 1 kilometer of every child’s home.
- “Pairing, not shutting down”: The court accepted the government’s argument that the policy is not about closing schools, but about optimizing resources and ensuring that students get access to better infrastructure, teaching, sports, and digital learning tools.
- Wastage of resources: The state also argued that several schools were running with extremely low enrollments and misutilization of resources — including teachers and funds.
Concerns Raised by Petitioners
- Distance and safety: Parents argued that merging schools would force young children to travel longer distances, which could increase dropout rates and pose safety risks.
- No survey or consultation: The petition also questioned why the government proceeded with such a massive change without publishing any survey, public report, or seeking inputs from stakeholders.
What Happens Now
- The High Court has cleared the way for the state to proceed with the pairing process.
- However, the door remains open for further legal action, as some education unions and political groups are reportedly considering taking the matter to the Supreme Court.
