High Court Summons Official Over Stalled School Road
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a stern view of civic apathy in Chandigarh after authorities stalled an essential school road construction project on the bizarre pretext of a bitumen shortage triggered by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the hazardous daily commute endured by minor students attending a government school in Manimajra, the court expressed strong displeasure over administrative inaction. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor directed the responsible municipal officer to appear personally before the court on October 28, 2026, along with all original files and tender documentation to explain why basic civil infrastructure has been denied to school children.
The ₹13.82 Lakh Roadwork Impasse: Ukraine War Used as Excuse for Inaction
The legal scrutiny centers around administrative lethargy despite a modest budgetary estimate:
Modest Financial Estimate: An official affidavit submitted to the High Court stated that a preliminary cost estimate of ₹13.82 lakh had been drawn up for constructing the approach road to the school.
The Tar Shortage Pretext: Despite the small scope of the work, civic authorities failed to issue the necessary construction tender, citing an alleged domestic shortage of tar (bitumen) linked to global supply chain disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine.
Judicial Rebuke: Questioning the rationale, the division bench demanded to know how the children's daily hardship would ever be alleviated if the municipal corporation refused to float tenders or initiate physical remediation on the ground.
Summons for October 28: The bench ordered the officer who filed the contentious affidavit to appear in person with all relevant department files to justify why alternative solutions were not explored.
Severe Ground Realities: Children Navigate Mud, Garbage Dumps, and Open Drains
The public interest petition highlights alarming safety conditions surrounding Government Model Middle School in Pocket No. 6, Sector 13, Manimajra:
Vulnerable Students at Risk: Filed by petitioner Defai Jindal, the plea points out that young students in grades 1 through 7 lack a paved, safe, or even level pathway to reach their classrooms.
Dangerous Terrain: The path leading to the campus is completely unpaved, steep, and broken, bordered by wild thorny bushes, accumulated garbage mounds, and inadequate street lighting.
Proximity to Open Drains and Slums: A large open sewer drain flows just 50 to 60 feet from the school's boundary wall, adjacent to temporary shanties and unmonitored slum dwellings.
Evening Shift Hazards in Winter: The school operates in double shifts (morning and evening); the lack of street lighting and proper road surfaces poses serious safety hazards for minor children returning home in darkness during upcoming winter months.
Previous Directives Ignored: Administration Under Lens for Delayed Action
The municipal authorities have reportedly dragged their feet despite prior warnings and official inspections:
Earlier Court Directions: The High Court had previously instructed the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Commissioner and the Chief Engineer of the Union Territory administration to conduct physical site inspections of the access corridor.
Photographic Evidence Submitted: The petitioner presented conclusive photographs showing students trekking through hazardous rubble and mud, underscoring systemic child safety risks.
Unheeded Legal Notice: A formal legal notice had already been served on civic bodies on March 9 demanding immediate road construction, with the school administration itself formally acknowledging the dangers of the unpaved road and open drain.
Fixing Administrative Accountability: The High Court is now examining what remedial measures the Chandigarh administration has executed to date, making it clear that bureaucratic excuses will not be permitted to compromise children's safety.
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