The High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench, comprising Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Brij Raj Singh, modified its earlier order requiring prior State verification of school inspection staff credentials so that structural audits across educational institutions can proceed without delay. Hearing a public interest litigation concerning school infrastructure and child safety, the court also ordered the impleadment of U.P. Power Corporation Ltd. following reports of high-tension electricity lines passing over approximately 4,000 schools across Uttar Pradesh, and addressed pressing issues regarding student transport security and traffic management in school zones.
Background of the Case & Legal Representation
The matter originated from a Public Interest Litigation filed by Gomti River Bank Residents through its Secretary, Mr. Girdhar Gopal, seeking directions on structural safety and operational security standards for educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh.
In these proceedings, the petitioner was represented by counsel Devak Vardhan, Ashok Kumar Singh, and Santosh Kumar Yadav, along with Amicus Curiae Abhinav Bhattacharya.
The State respondents were represented by Additional Advocate General Sudeep Kumar and advocate Vivek Shukla, alongside the Chief Standing Counsel (C.S.C.) and advocates Akhilesh Kumar Kalra, Anand Kumar Kaushal, Chandra Bhushan Pandey, Ratnesh Chandra, Shailendra Singh Chauhan, Siddharth Lal Vaish, Sudhanshu Chauhan, Tushar Mittal, and Vinay Singh. The Union of India was represented by advocate Raj Kumar Singh.
Arguments of the Parties
Appearing for the State respondents, Additional Advocate General Sudeep Kumar and advocate Vivek Shukla drew the bench’s attention to a previous order dated July 20, 2026, which directed that credentials of all personnel involved in school inspections be verified by the State. They submitted that the successful bidder had been asked to provide around 2,000 staff members currently undergoing orientation and training. While the agency possesses complete data and credentials for these inspecting staff to forward to the State Government, requiring prior State verification before inspections begin would delay the entire process. The State requested that inspections be allowed to proceed while verification takes place simultaneously in due course.
Amicus Curiae Abhinav Bhattacharya highlighted critical non-structural hazards, pointing out that high-tension electricity lines pass over approximately 4,000 schools in Uttar Pradesh, with incidents already reported where fallen power lines threatened students’ safety. He referred to a study published in the Hindustan Times on July 25, 2026.
The Amicus Curiae further raised concerns regarding student transport, citing reported incidents of minor children being sexually harassed by school bus and van drivers. Reference was made to Section 222(b) of the U.P. Motor Vehicle Rules, which mandates that licenses for private buses and agreements between schools and transport agencies include protective terms. He emphasized that similar verification measures must apply to school van drivers.
Additionally, members across the Bar suggested that, if possible, female drivers should be engaged for school vans to ensure the safety of school children. Additional Advocate General Sudeep Kumar stated that the State would consider this suggestion and seek instructions from the concerned authorities.
Court’s Analysis
The court accepted the State’s submission regarding inspection staff, recognizing that requiring prior verification before starting audits would cause unwanted delays.
Highlighting the urgency of structural safety, the court noted recent media reports of falling dilapidated structures. The bench referred to an report in the e-edition of Dainik Bhaskar regarding the total collapse of Samri Primary School in Police Station Mirganj, Block Mungrabadshahpur, District Jaunpur, which occurred on a holiday. The bench also referred to an incident in Lucknow at a school operated by the Department of Divyangjan Sashaktikaran (Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities), where an eight-year-old boy died after being crushed under a collapsing heavy iron gate.
Underscoring the importance of structural integrity, the court observed:
“Mention of the aforesaid facts is only to show that the task at hand is very important and urgent and accordingly we expect the State and agencies to act in a manner so that greatest efforts can be made to make the educational institutions a safe place for our children.”
On transport safety, the court noted police verification data collected under “Mission Bharosa”, which revealed that out of 2,370 school vehicle drivers, 527 were found to have adverse reports, posing a direct concern for minor children’s security.
Regarding traffic management around educational institutions, Ms. Raveena Tyagi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Lucknow, appeared in person and submitted a preliminary compliance report evaluating schools on traffic marshall deployment. The report categorized seven schools in the ‘good’ category, five in ‘average’, and five in ‘poor’. The DCP Traffic also highlighted plans to manage real-time traffic from a central control room by installing CCTV cameras at school entry points.
Decision of the Court
- Modification of Inspection Order: The High Court modified its July 20, 2026 order, ruling: “The successful bidder shall forthwith transmit all the data they have of the persons who have been entrusted with the task of inspection of the schools. The State Government in due course shall look into the data and take steps for its verification at their end. Needless to say that the inspection of the schools to be undertaken will not be the subject matter of verification of credentials of the inspection staff.”
- Impleadment of UPPCL: The court directed that “U.P. Power Corporation Ltd. through its Managing Director” be impleaded as a respondent. The Additional Advocate General was directed to communicate the order and seek UPPCL’s views on overhead high-tension lines by the next listing.
- Transport Rules & SOP: The court noted that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) being prepared with educational institutions is in its final stage and will be presented at the next listing. The State was directed to seek instructions regarding driver credential verification under Section 222(b) of the U.P. Motor Vehicle Rules and the feasibility of engaging female drivers for school vans.
- CCTV Installation Details: The DCP Traffic, Lucknow, was directed to inform the court of the required number of CCTV cameras and estimated installation costs around schools by the next hearing date.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on August 18, 2026.
Case Details:
Case Title: Gomti River Bank Residents Thru.Secy.Mr.Girdhar Gopal v. State Of U.P. Through Prin.Secy.Housing And Urban Dev. And Ors.
Case No.: Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No.3436 of 2020
Bench: Justice Alok Mathur, Justice Brij Raj Singh
Date: July 30, 2026
