Allahabad High Court has sought a reply from the Chief Secretary of the state and asked him to file a personal affidavit regarding the regular maintenance and repair of buildings of primary education schools in Uttar Pradesh. Describing primary education as a fundamental right of the citizens, the court has also directed the Chief Secretary to tell how the state government will resolve the issues related to it.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Kshitij Shailendra passed this order while hearing a PIL filed by a woman named Chandrakala. The petitioner has filed this PIL describing the plight of primary schools in Shahjahanpur district.

Expressing concern over the actions of the state government with respect to primary schools, the court said, “The issue raised in this PIL, though of great importance, does not appear to be of any importance to the respondents.” 

According to the PIL, a large part of a primary school building in Jharsa gram panchayat of Jaswantpur block of Puwaiyan tehsil of Shahjahanpur district collapsed due to lack of regular care and maintenance.

The court said that as per the information given by the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), the inspection committee found that there are 30 other such institutions which are in a very dilapidated condition. The court further said that despite the report of the inspection committee, the defendants continue to turn a blind eye to that report and are allowing the building to collapse. 

These buildings were found beyond repair during the inspection conducted on December 1, 2023. The Basic Education Officer argued that as and when the state government makes funds available, new buildings will be constructed.

The court, in its order dated December 14, directed the matter to be listed as a fresh case on January 4, 2024, and directed the state government counsel to provide a copy of the order to the Chief Secretary.