Allahabad HC junks pleas against UP govt's school pairing move

LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court on Monday dismissed the pleas challenging the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to pair primary and upper primary schools with fewer than 50 students with nearby institutions. A bench of Justice Pankaj Bhatia pronounced the verdict on Monday.

The court had on Friday reserved the order on two separate petitions filed by Krishna Kumari and others, who sought cancellation of the state government's June 16 order. The petitioners' advocates L P Mishra and Gaurav Mehrotra had argued that the state government's action violates Article 21A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to education for children aged between six and 14 years.

They contended the implementation of the decision would deprive children of their right to education in their neighbourhood. The government should instead focus on improving the standard of schools to attract more students, they added. Further, the petitioners said the government chose the "easier way" of closing these schools, instead of working towards public welfare, overriding economic gains or losses.

Additional advocate general Anuj Kudesia, chief standing counsel Shailendra Singh and senior advocate Sandeep Dixit, representing the director of basic education, argued the government's decision was made according to rules, free from flaws or illegalities. They said many schools had very few, or no students, and said the government did not "merge" the schools but "paired" them, assuring no primary schools were closed.