Himachal Pradesh High Court stays notification on merger of schools

The HP High Court today stayed a notification issued by the state government to merge Government Primary School, Rashkar, with Government Primary School, Uchh, in Kullu district.

During the course of hearing, it was brought to the notice of the court that the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kullu, had filed a report relating to the location of Government Primary School, Uchh. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Satyen Vaidya observed that “having regard to the findings in the said report, prima-facie, we are of the view that it cannot be safe for small children both during the rainy season and the winter season to reach the school. Therefore, there shall be an interim stay on the office order issued on August 17 merging Government Primary School, Rashkar, with Government Primary School, Uchh.” The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 5.

The court passed the interim order on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Thakur Chand alleging that the decision of the state government regarding the merger of the schools was against the interests of students of the area.