200+ Students Protest Poor School Road Connectivity; Allahabad HC Directs Swift Forest NOC

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Forest Department to expedite the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) required for construction of a road leading to a school in Hamirpur, after more than 200 students and their parents protested over the lack of proper road connectivity.

A bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra said the Forest Department should issue the requisite NOC “with expedition” and not at its usual pace. The direction came after the State informed the court that a 1.6-kilometre stretch of the proposed road falls on forest land, making the NOC necessary before construction can begin.

Court was dealing with the matter suo motu after taking note of a newspaper report about students from Chandupur village who had walked around five kilometres, along with their parents, to the Hamirpur District Magistrate's office to protest the absence of a proper road to their school.

Why is the road project pending?

During the proceedings, the State told the bench that the government had sanctioned ₹1.81 crore for the road project. However, the 1.6-kilometre portion passing through forest land remains a hurdle.

Court was informed that approval for construction had been granted as far back as 2015, but the project could not proceed because the required Forest Department NOC was unavailable. Fresh efforts were subsequently made to secure the permission.

The State also told the court that a cement road would be necessary given the nature of the terrain.

In the meantime, officials have been attempting to keep the existing stretch motorable. However, the State submitted that temporary measures have repeatedly been disrupted by rain and the difficult terrain. It said efforts were continuing to keep the route usable until a permanent solution is implemented.

Court seeks action without further delay

Taking note of the situation, the bench directed that the Union government, through the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as well as the Divisional Forest Officer, Hamirpur Forest Division, be made parties to the proceedings.

Court also directed a copy of the order to be served on the Additional Solicitor General of India, who would communicate the court's direction to the Divisional Forest Officer to ensure that the NOC is issued without further loss of time.

The proceedings were initiated after the high court earlier observed that the situation of schoolchildren having to agitate before the District Collector for a road, described as a responsibility of the State, “cannot be countenanced”.

Court had also noted that the children's five-kilometre walk during the protest reflected the extent of the difficulties they were facing. The case has been listed for September 28, 2026 next.

Case Title: In Re: Road To School, Hamirpur Vs. State of U.P.