Rajasthan Budget 2026-27 Demonstrates Judicial Impact on State Spending
Presented by Finance Minister Diya Kumari, the Rajasthan Budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 carries a distinct imprint of recent judicial interventions and observations from both the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court. A detailed analysis of the budget provisions indicates that sustained judicial scrutiny over the past year has directly shaped the state's fiscal priorities and policy announcements.
Direct Reflection of Court Orders in Budget Allocations
A thorough review of the budget documents reveals that issues repeatedly flagged by the courts have found explicit reflection in the spending proposals and policy initiatives announced on Wednesday. Over the past several months, the Rajasthan High Court has taken serious note of multiple critical areas requiring urgent government attention.
The court had highlighted several pressing concerns:
- Crumbling government school infrastructure
- Recurring paper leaks in recruitment examinations
- Rising student suicides, particularly in coaching hubs
- Poor mental healthcare facilities across the state
- Increasing road accidents and safety issues
- Illegal mining activities in the Aravalli region
- Significant gaps in cybercrime control mechanisms
In multiple cases, the court issued strict directions and sought personal accountability from senior officials, creating pressure for budgetary responses.
Education Infrastructure Receives Major Boost
One of the most prominent provisions in the budget is an allocation of nearly Rs 1,000 crore specifically earmarked for the repair and upgradation of government school infrastructure. This substantial investment comes directly in response to judicial criticism regarding unsafe school buildings, severe classroom shortages, lack of drinking water facilities, and inadequate sanitation provisions.
In early February, the High Court expressed clear displeasure over the state government's delayed suo motu cognisance of the poor condition of government schools, observing that concrete action was taken only after the widely publicized Jhalawar school incident brought the issue to national attention.
Examination Reforms and Recruitment Transparency
Judicial criticism over repeated examination paper leaks has also significantly shaped budget proposals. Following controversies surrounding major recruitment exams, including the sub-inspector recruitment of 2021 that faced multiple postponements due to paper leak allegations, the state has announced the formation of a Rajasthan Testing Agency modeled on the National Testing Agency.
The High Court had consistently stressed the urgent need for greater transparency, enhanced accountability, and robust technological safeguards in recruitment processes to restore public confidence in government hiring mechanisms.
Mental Health Initiatives Gain Priority
Mental health has emerged as another critical focus area directly influenced by court observations. Responding to concerns raised by both the Supreme Court and the High Court regarding rising student suicides in coaching hubs—particularly in Kota—and the poor treatment of persons with mental illness, the budget earmarks significant funds for expanding counselling services.
The mental health allocation includes resources for:
- Strengthening existing mental health institutions
- Launching comprehensive awareness programmes
- Establishing counselling centres at all district headquarters
Road Safety and Environmental Protection Measures
Judicial intervention is further reflected in enhanced road safety measures, with a specific proposal to install 2,000 CCTV cameras across the state to monitor traffic violations and reduce accidents—an area where the High Court had previously sought detailed action plans from the transport department.
Environmental protection has received attention through an allocation of Rs 130 crore dedicated to conservation efforts in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli range, addressing concerns about illegal mining activities that have drawn judicial scrutiny.
Additionally, the budget includes provisions to strengthen court infrastructure and expand e-court facilities, acknowledging the judiciary's role in governance while improving judicial administration efficiency.
The Rajasthan Budget 2026-27 thus represents a clear case of judicial oversight translating into concrete fiscal policy, with the state government responding to court directives through targeted allocations across multiple sectors that have been under sustained legal examination.
