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2mo ago

Allahabad High Court Seeks Data as Opposition Protests UP School Pairing

The bench adjourned proceedings until Friday pending the government’s submission of pre-merger survey data under the threat of a fine.

Apni Janata Party chief Swami Prasad Maurya protesting against the school merger plan in Lucknow on July 3. (HT photo)
There are 1.40 lakh government primary and upper primary schools in the state, out of which 29,000 have 50 or fewer students, an official said. (Pic for representation)
A govt primary school in Prayagraj region (HT File)
The AJP chief requested the government to reconsider this decision in the interest of poor kids. (File Photo)

Overview

  • The UP government’s June 16 order mandates merging primary and upper primary schools with fewer than 50 students, a policy officials say will optimise resources across about 140,000 institutions.
  • On July 3, Congress, AAP, SP, BSP and AJP staged coordinated protests demanding the policy’s rollback, warning longer travel distances could force poor and girl students out of school.
  • Fifty-one students from Sitapur filed a writ petition the same day, arguing the pairing violates Article 21A and the Right to Education Act’s requirement for schools within one kilometre of communities.
  • A Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court paused hearings until Friday after ordering the government to present any survey conducted before issuing the merger order and cautioned it with a Rs 1 lakh fine for incomplete evidence.
  • State officials maintain the exercise is a “pairing” aimed at better utilisation of classrooms and teachers, not school closures, citing low enrolments and a freeze on teacher recruitment.