Allahabad High Court stays UP school merger in interim order, next hearing on August 21: Reports

In a temporary relief to the school students in Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad High Court has put a stay on the UP school merger, as per local media reports. The Lucknow bench of the HC listed the matter for further hearing on August 21 and ordered the government to maintain the status quo till then.

A division bench of Justices Arun Bhansali and Jaspreet Singh reportedly passed an interim order in a petition filed by 51 students of Sitapur district against closure of schools. The court has also taken note of serious deficiencies in the data. Even those schools in the district with more than 50 students were included in the merger list.

Earlier, the Additional Advocate General, representing the state government, firmly presented the Yogi Adityanath government's stance and stated that the merger of schools has been carried out entirely in accordance with the rules, as per the local reports. The UP government informed the court that the school buildings which have been merged and are now vacant will be used as Bal Vatika (pre-primary schools) and Anganwadi centers. The step has been taken to provide better education and facilities to the students.

UP school merger

Earlier, the HC had asked the Uttar Pradesh government whether it had conducted any survey before taking the decision for merger of primary schools and said that if a survey had been conducted, its report should be presented. The court also said that the government should present its stand on the plea against merger with full preparation and facts.

Several students, teachers, associations, and political leaders have been protesting the government’s recent decision on the UP school merger. The BJP government has sent school closure orders to district education officers of 75 districts in the state.