The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday delivered a stern rebuke to the state government for its continued failure to present a concrete plan to address the perilous condition of thousands of government school buildings across the state. The court's sharp criticism came during a hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning school infrastructure safety.
Court's Stern Warning and Final Deadline
A division bench comprising Justices Mahendra Goyal and Ashok Kumar Jain expressed clear displeasure with the government's repeated requests for more time. The bench was hearing a suo motu PIL initiated in the wake of the tragic Jhalawar school incident. The court directed the state to file a revised and comprehensive roadmap for repairing and improving school infrastructure by December 5, 2025.
This revised plan must be accompanied by a sworn affidavit from the Education Secretary and a complete breakdown of the budgetary allocations required for the task. The bench issued a clear warning: if the government fails to comply by the next hearing, the Education Secretary will be required to appear before the court in person or via video conference.
Government's 'Vague' Plan and Alarming Data
The court highlighted that the government had not even partially complied with its previous order dated November 6, 2025. During that earlier hearing, the judges had made scathing observations, contrasting the government's grand 'Vision 2047' with its apparent lack of planning for school safety. They had dismissed the initially submitted roadmap as vague, lacking a clear strategy, and devoid of crucial financial details.
Citing alarming survey data, the court pointed out that approximately 86,000 classrooms in Rajasthan are in a dangerous or dilapidated state. The government's earlier proposal failed to explain how these critical repairs would be executed or how funds would be allocated for renovation, new construction, and ongoing infrastructure projects.
Background: The Jhalawar Tragedy
The court's suo motu intervention was triggered by a devastating incident on July 25 in Piplodi village, Jhalawar. A classroom ceiling collapsed, claiming the lives of seven students. This tragedy sparked statewide outrage and profound concern over the safety of school infrastructure, compelling the judiciary to take proactive action.
Advocate Tanmay Dhand, opposing the government's plea for additional time, informed the court that the state consistently seeks extensions without demonstrating tangible progress. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on December 5, which stands as a firm deadline for the state to present its actionable and funded plan to secure the future of its schoolchildren.
