The Telangana High Court has ordered a joint inspection to identify suitable premises for the temporary relocation of the Government Primary School for Girls, Seethaphalmandi-II (Vijaya Dairy School). This decision follows disputes over the availability of quarters proposed for shifting the institution for the 2026-27 academic year.
Court Orders Joint Inspection
Justice Juvvadi Sridevi directed officials from the School Education Department and the Telangana State Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (Vijaya Dairy), along with counsels for the petitioners and other parties, to jointly inspect the quarters identified for the school's relocation. They must submit reports to the court by June 22.
Background of the Case
The court issued these directions while hearing a petition filed by parents of children studying at the 60-year-old school, which is currently in a dilapidated condition. During the hearing, the government informed the court that the district education department had issued proceedings on June 2 directing the school's shifting from the academic year 2026-27.
Authorities stated that the move was intended to ensure uninterrupted education for students and that parents had been informed accordingly. They said certain residential quarters were reported to be available and had been proposed as temporary accommodation for the school.
Dispute Over Proposed Quarters
However, the Telangana State Dairy Development Cooperative Federation disputed this claim, telling the court that the identified quarters were not vacant. According to the federation, one quarter is locked due to provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, another has already been allotted to an employee, and a third is being used as a store for the federation's head office. The federation contended that the premises are not feasible for accommodating the school.
Petitioners' Arguments
Meanwhile, petitioners' counsel Chikkudu Prabhakar argued that shifting the school to the proposed location would violate norms under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. He submitted that a school catering to Classes I to V must be located within 1 km of the neighborhood, whereas the proposed site is about 3.7 km away. The petitioners further sought directions for allotment of two suitable A-Type quarters to enable the school to function smoothly.
Court's Directions
Taking note of the rival claims, the High Court directed the authorities and counsel for all parties to jointly inspect the proposed quarters. The court also ordered that if the identified quarters are found unsuitable, the officials must locate and inspect any other vacant quarters available within the federation's premises for the same purpose.
