The Allahabad High Court has warned educational institutions across Uttar Pradesh that they face action if they repeatedly fail to deploy traffic marshals outside their campuses to ease traffic congestion and protect students.
During a hearing on Tuesday, a Lucknow bench comprising Justice Alok Mathur and Justice B R Singh ordered the Lucknow Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to immediately serve notices to schools that have neither hired traffic marshals nor submitted proposals for their deployment. The court set the next hearing in the matter for July 30.
Enforcement Rules for Errant Schools
The bench mandated that authorities notify the court whenever a school fails to comply with the marshal deployment directives on three or more occasions. Upon receiving such reports, the court will determine the next steps and initiate proceedings against defaulting institutions.
Statewide Inspections to Begin August 1
The Additional Advocate General informed the bench that the state government has finalized an agreement with a selected agency to oversee campus traffic measures. Physical inspections of school sites across Uttar Pradesh are scheduled to start on August 1.
The court directed that these inspections be conducted exclusively by trained and qualified personnel. It further instructed the state government to verify the credentials of all inspection team members prior to launching the exercise. The bench emphasized that the initial inspection phase will be critical, ordering officials to report any operational difficulties to the court immediately through the Additional Advocate General so that appropriate instructions can be issued.
Campus Measures and Unified Protocols
The bench also reviewed individual traffic management initiatives, noting that Loreto Convent School significantly improved traffic flow around its premises by opening Gate No. 6A. The change allows vehicles transporting students to drive onto school grounds rather than halting on public roads outside.
Additionally, the court noted that several schools are jointly drafting a common standard operating procedure for traffic regulation. The bench directed that once finalized, this unified protocol must be implemented across all schools to enhance student safety and streamline vehicular movement outside campus grounds.
