'You Talk About Vision 2047, But Where is the Plan?' HC Asks State in Unsafe Schools Case

Nov 7, 2025 – The Rajasthan Government has come in for heavy criticism from the High Court in the matter concerning dilapidated school buildings with the Court calling the government’s roadmap incomplete. The Division Bench remarked that while the government talks about a Vision 2047, it does not even have a plan for tomorrow when it comes to schools. The High Court said that work must be done on the ground, not just in the form of electoral promises and emphasised that school infrastructure must comply with legal and regulatory standards.

A special Division Bench of Justice Mahendra Kumar Goyal and Justice Ashok Kumar Jain directed the government to submit a detailed roadmap for the repair and reconstruction of government school buildings, along with an affidavit from the Education Secretary. The government has also been asked to present a detailed budget allocation under various heads by November 24.

The order was issued by the Bench on Thursday, November 6, while hearing a suo motu petition filed after the collapse of a government school roof in Jhalawar, which resulted in the death of several children.

During the hearing, the High Court made sharp oral observations, questioning the government’s lack of concrete planning saying, “You talk about Vision 2047, but where is the plan? The need is of today — children cannot wait for tomorrow. Has any study been conducted to assess how many schools and colleges will be required in the coming years? What exactly is the vision and what is the plan?”

The Court noted that “only papers are being produced, but nothing is visible on the ground.” It described the roadmap submitted by the District Education Officer as incomplete, and directed the Education Secretary to submit a comprehensive and detailed plan for improving the condition of unsafe school buildings.

The Court questioned why senior government officials were not present during the hearings?

The Bench remarked that National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) guidelines require RCC (reinforced concrete) roofs, yet in many schools tin or slab roofs are being used. It instructed that all works must strictly follow the NCPCR guidelines, the Right to Education (RTE) Act, and Supreme Court directives.

The Court sought the following information:

• How many school buildings are currently under construction?
• How many new buildings will be built?
• What is the budget allocation for repairing old and damaged buildings?
• How many buildings will be constructed or renovated this year?
• What is the future plan for repairing and rebuilding unsafe school structures?
• A comprehensive roadmap detailing the entire plan for school infrastructure improvement.
• An affidavit from the Education Secretary with all the above details.

The next hearing has been scheduled for November 24.

With Media Inputs

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