Himachal HC Quashes Govt Order on Primary School Merger, Cites Hardships for Young Students

Shimla – Himachal Pradesh High Court has quashed the state government’s order merging Government Primary School (GPS) Ropa Kot with GPS Karaha, citing the difficulties young children would face in commuting.

A division bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the School Management Committee of GPS Ropa Kot.

The court ruled that forcing children to travel a distance of around 4 km daily—2 km each way—was unreasonable for primary school students.

The case revolved around a government notification dated August 17, 2024, ordering the merger of the two schools.

The petitioners argued that the merger violated Articles 14, 16, and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law, equal opportunity, and the right to life and dignity.

The court took note of a certificate issued by the Executive Engineer, which confirmed that the road distance between the two schools was nearly 3 km. Even the government admitted that the shortest route was no less than 2 km.

Given the circumstances, the bench found merit in the petitioner’s concerns, stating, “This court cannot expect young children in primary classes to walk such distances daily.”

Consequently, the court set aside the state’s merger order but left room for future modifications if circumstances changed. The ruling ensures that GPS Ropa Kot will continue functioning as before, at least for the upcoming academic session.

This verdict is likely to have broader implications on similar school merger policies in the state, where concerns over accessibility and student well-being have been repeatedly raised.