Read Time: 05 minutes

Synopsis

The Allahabad High Court has raised serious concerns about school safety and traffic management following a recent building collapse at Awadh Children Academy in Barabanki. The collapse, which occurred on August 23, 2024, injured 15 to 20 children, highlighting a critical need for schools to comply with safety guidelines set by the Supreme Court in the Avinash Mehrotra case.

During the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Gomti River Bank Residents Association, the court examined two affidavits submitted by Sri Amit Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police (Lucknow), and Sri Deepak Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Secondary Education). The affidavits indicated that efforts are underway to implement safety measures in line with Supreme Court guidelines, though progress has been slow.

Court accepted the absence of the Additional Chief Secretary, who was engaged in Teacher’s Day events, but stressed the urgency of preparing an action plan for school safety. The bench, comprising Justices Alok Mathur and Brij Raj Singh, directed the state to expedite these efforts and ensure proper inspections of school buildings, fire safety, and electrical systems.

Court also ordered a thorough investigation into whether safety inspections were conducted at Awadh Children Academy before the collapse and what actions were taken afterward. Additionally, it sought a report on any other safety inspections performed at the school or similar institutions.

Despite repeated warnings, the court noted that the state government has been slow to follow the Supreme Court’s guidelines on school safety. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had been tasked with monitoring compliance, but the state’s efforts remain inadequate, court noted. 

Court ordered that a comprehensive action plan be submitted, following both the 2016 NDMA guidelines and fresh safety measures issued by the Ministry of Education in 2021.

In addition to safety concerns, court addressed the issue of traffic management around schools in Lucknow. Joint Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, Amit Verma reported that some schools had complied with court orders by allowing school vans inside their premises, while others raised objections. Court directed that these issues be resolved through discussions between the Joint Commissioner of Police and the amicus curiae, to improve traffic conditions near schools.

The state government has been directed to provide updates on school safety measures and traffic management by October 1, 2024. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) is also required to appear before the court on the next hearing date.

Case Title: Gomti River Bank Residents Association Versus State of U.P. and others