The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed the Forest Department to issue the requisite No Objection Certificate for the construction of a 1.6-kilometre road stretch leading to a school in Hamirpur with expedition. The bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra passed the order while dealing with a suo motu matter concerning the difficulties faced by over 200 schoolchildren from Chandupur village who had walked five kilometres to protest before the District Magistrate over the lack of a motorable road to their school.
The Court took note of the submission that the State Government had sanctioned ₹1.81 crore for the construction of the road, but the critical 1.6-kilometre segment falls on forest land, making the project contingent upon obtaining the Forest Department’s NOC. Although administrative sanction for the road was granted in 2015, the project had not progressed due to the absence of the required clearance. The State informed the Court that fresh efforts were underway to secure the NOC, but it sought additional time, citing the terrain’s nature and the need for a cement road.
The State further submitted that interim attempts to render the stretch motorable had been unsuccessful, as temporary arrangements were getting disrupted quickly due to the terrain and rainfall. It stated that continuous efforts were being made to maintain usability, but these were proving inadequate.
Considering the submissions, the Court observed that the Forest Department should not proceed at its general pace but with expedition in issuing the NOC. The bench emphasised that the situation—where young children are compelled to undertake agitations for basic infrastructure that is the State’s responsibility—cannot be countenanced.
To ensure effective implementation, the Court impleaded the Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Divisional Forest Officer, Hamirpur Forest Division, as respondents. A copy of the order was directed to be served on the Additional Solicitor General of India, who was instructed to inform the Divisional Forest Officer, Hamirpur, to ensure the NOC is issued without any further loss of time.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 28, 2026. The proceedings were registered as 'In Re: Road to School, Hamirpur vs. State of U.P. and Others' following the Court’s earlier suo motu cognizance of the issue based on a newspaper report detailing the protest by the schoolchildren and their parents.
In its initial order taking cognizance, the Court had observed that the fact that small schoolgoing children had to agitate before the District Collector for a road, which is the State’s duty to provide, reflects the magnitude of difficulties faced by them and cannot be allowed to continue.