The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to maintain status quo on its school pairing policy in Sitapur district until August 21, in its implementation.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh passed the interim order while hearing two special appeals filed by students Master Nitish Kumar and Dharm Veer through their guardians. The appeals challenged a July 7 single-judge order that had dismissed their earlier petitions against the state’s June 16 directive to pair primary schools with low student strength.
The appellants argued that the pairing of schools violates the “neighbourhood school” principle enshrined in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and infringes upon the fundamental right to education under Article 21-A of the Constitution.
During the hearing, the bench noted that the single judge had relied on documents presented by the state which were not on official record. The state later submitted those documents via affidavit, and the court directed the appellants to respond by the next hearing.
The state government’s policy aims to consolidate resources by pairing schools with low enrolment figures—typically fewer than 50 students—with nearby institutions. This initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, has already resulted in the pairing of over 10,000 of the state’s 1.3 lakh government primary schools.
However, the move has drawn criticism from opposition parties and education rights activists, who argue that it may adversely affect access to education, especially in rural areas.
The matter will be heard next on August 21.
