# Jai Bhagwan v. State of U.P. & Ors

- **Citation:** (2024) 12 ILRA 577
- **Court:** High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
- **Decided:** 2024-12-11
- **Case number:** Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 1911 of 2024
- **Bench:** Saurabh Shyam Shamshery
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/allahabad-high-court/jai-bhagwan-v-state-of-u-p-ors-51280
- **Pages:** 7

## Headnote

Civil Law- Public interest litigation -
Government School - Use of school land
and farm - Mismanagement of leased
lands - Encroachments - Absence of
statutory committee -Directions issued
for enforcement of Government Order
dated 31.07.2018 - Guidelines framed for
transparent leasing and better educational
outcomes - Composite school system in
rural
U.P.
found
deficient
-
Accountability, attendance, infrastructure
and quality concerns - District authorities
directed
to
implement
corrective
measures. (Para 8)

HELD:
In aforesaid circumstances, this public interest
litigation is disposed of with following directions:
(I) No School's Farm land will be leased out
without a reasoned decision taken by above
referred Committee of concerned School. (II)
The Committee shall consider the condition of
earlier lease, their consideration and whether
earlier income generated was deposited in
School's account or not. Committee shall also
take note of antecedent of lessee. (III) District
Basic Education Officer, Meerut will take note of
shortcomings pointed out in report and will take
necessary steps to address. (IV) District Basic
Education Officer, Meerut will communicate all
53 Schools of District Meerut about this order.
(V) District Magistrate, Meerut as well as District
Basic Education Officer, Meerut will take note of
report and its suggestions and take all efforts to
implement it, as far as possible, if there is no
legal impediment and if necessary be forwarded
to Higher Authority for consideration. (Para 8)

Writ petition disposed of. (E-14)
578 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES

## Text

12 All. Jai Bhagwan Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.
577
16. At this stage, Shri Ashish
Kumar Singh has placed before this Court a
copy of the order dated 02.03.2023 passed
by this Court in Matter under Article 227
No.1786 of 2023 whereby the trial court
was directed to decide the aforesaid suit in
six months.

17. Accordingly, the trial court
shall decide the suit proceedings most
expeditiously. Evidence of the plaintiffs
shall be concluded in three months,
evidence of defendants shall be concluded
in next three months and the suit shall be
decided on merits in next two months.

18. This judgment, in itself, shall
be treated as a certificate in terms of
Section 13 of the Act, 1870 granted to the
appellant authorizing him to receive back
from the Collector, Prayagraj, court fees of
Rs.
2,27,000/-.
The
Collector,
being
representative of the State in district and
State being a party to this appeal, he is
directed to ensure that the aforesaid amount
of court fees is refunded to the appellant
within 2 weeks after a copy of this order is
placed before him. For this purpose, the
Collector
shall
remain
competent
to
delegate his power to any other officer
under his supervision and control.

19.

Allowed
with
aforesaid
observations.
----------
(2024) 12 ILRA 577
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
CIVIL SIDE
DATED: ALLAHABAD 11.12.2024

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE SAURABH SHYAM
SHAMSHERY, J.

Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 1911 of 2024

Jai Bhagwan ...Petitioner
Versus
State of U.P. & Ors. ...Respondents

Counsel for the Petitioner:
Sri Awadhesh Kumar Mishra, Sri Sunil Kumar
Singh, Sri Vipul Kumar (A.C.), Sri Rai Sahab
Yadav (A.C.)

Counsel for the Respondents:
Sri Abhitab Kumar Tiwari, Sri Sunil Kumar Singh,
C.S.C.

Civil Law- Public interest litigation -
Government School - Use of school land
and farm - Mismanagement of leased
lands - Encroachments - Absence of
statutory committee -Directions issued
for enforcement of Government Order
dated 31.07.2018 - Guidelines framed for
transparent leasing and better educational
outcomes - Composite school system in
rural
U.P.
found
deficient
-
Accountability, attendance, infrastructure
and quality concerns - District authorities
directed
to
implement
corrective
measures. (Para 8)

HELD:
In aforesaid circumstances, this public interest
litigation is disposed of with following directions:
(I) No School's Farm land will be leased out
without a reasoned decision taken by above
referred Committee of concerned School. (II)
The Committee shall consider the condition of
earlier lease, their consideration and whether
earlier income generated was deposited in
School's account or not. Committee shall also
take note of antecedent of lessee. (III) District
Basic Education Officer, Meerut will take note of
shortcomings pointed out in report and will take
necessary steps to address. (IV) District Basic
Education Officer, Meerut will communicate all
53 Schools of District Meerut about this order.
(V) District Magistrate, Meerut as well as District
Basic Education Officer, Meerut will take note of
report and its suggestions and take all efforts to
implement it, as far as possible, if there is no
legal impediment and if necessary be forwarded
to Higher Authority for consideration. (Para 8)

Writ petition disposed of. (E-14)
578 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES
(Delivered by Hon'ble Saurabh Shyam
Shamshery, J.)

1. This public interest litigation has
been filed to keep a playground of a
Government School of Village Kakkerpur,
Post Bhuni, Sardhana, District Meerut, free
from any encroachment as there was an
apprehension that in the garb of lease to
School's
Farm
land,
playground
of
concerned School will be disturbed.

2. During hearing it was revealed
that due procedure to lease out was not
followed and income generated was not
deposited in School's account, therefore,
this Court extended the scope of present
public interest litigation and appointed Sri
Vipul Kumar and Sri Rai Sahab Yadav,
Advocates as Amicus Curiae and asked
them to visit the concerned School as well
as other Schools and to submit a report.

3. Sri Vipul Kumar and Sri Rai
Sahab Yadav, Advocates have submitted a
report
alongwith
supplementary
suggestions today, which are taken on
record. Court also heard their submissions.

4. I have carefully perused the
report. Sri Vipul Kumar and Sri Rai Sahab
Yadav, Advocates have visited many
Schools running under the jurisdiction of
District Basic Education Officer, Meerut
and
they
have
pointed
out
certain
irregularities and shortcomings. In one of
the School facilities were utilized upto the
best and even Adharshila Lab was working
very efficiently.

5. In the report it has been
disclosed that there are 53 Schools within
the District Meerut, where there are School
Farm. It is also pointed out in report that in
terms of Government Order dated 31st July,
2018, in order to lease out such School's
Farm land, a Committee has to be
constituted having Gram Pradhan or Nagar
Palika Adhyaksha as President and a person
nominated by Sub-Divisional Magistrate,
above the rank of Naib Tehsildar and
Principal of concerned School as its
Members. The report further states that
such Committee is not constituted in every
such Schools and without their express
consent Schools' Farm land were leased
out. So far as present School is concerned,
a First Information Report was lodged
against earlier Principal as well as present
Principal has also committed an error as in
order to submit his reply, he has appointed
a person, who was supposed to be
beneficiary of proposal of lease.

6. Some of the suggestions given
by Sri Vipul Kumar and Sri Rai Sahab
Yadav, Advocates in their report as well as
supplementary suggestions are reproduced
hereinafter:

"दशक्षा सुिार सम्बन्िी सुझाव
• दवद्यालयों में दशक्षा सम्बन्िी जाूँच करने
पर पाया गया दक बेदसक दशक्षा पररषि के दवद्यालयों में
छात्रों की संख्या लगातार कम होती जा रही है। दशक्षा
को लेकर अध्यापक उिासीन दिखे, छात्रों में पढाई के
प्रदत रुदच नहीं दिखी।
• कई दवद्यालयों में 50 छात्र से कम की
संख्या है। सरकार द्वारा दशक्षा पर दवशेष अदभयान
चलाया जा रहा है। दवद्यालय भवन बनवाये जा रहे हैं।
फनीचर, दमड-डे-मील, स्कालरदशप, ड्रेस, बैग आदि
प्रिान दकये जा रहे हैं दफर भी छात्रों की संख्या कम
होती जा रही है।

• अदभभावक द्वारा अंग्रेजी मीदडयम स्कूल
में अपने बच्चों को पढाने पर जोर दिया जा रहा है
पररषिीय दवद्यालयों में मात्र गरीबों के बच्चे आते हैं
प्राथदमक और उच्च प्राथदमक दवद्यालयों में दहन्िी व
अंग्रेजी मीदडयम िोनों की सुदविा प्रिान दकया जाना
चादहए।
12 All. Jai Bhagwan Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.
579
• जब से दवद्यालय में भोजन बनना शुरू
हुआ दशक्षा का स्तर दगरता जा रहा है। दवद्यालय दसफा
दशक्षा के दलए होना चादहए यदि सरकार गरीब व्यदि के
बच्चों की मिि करना चाहती है तो बच्चों को
स्कालरदशप या बच्चों के घर खाद्यान िेकर मिि दकया
जा सकता है दकन्तु दवद्यालय में दशक्षा पर जोर दिया
जाना चादहए।
• सरकारी दवद्यालयों में छात्रों का फजी
पंजीकरण पाया गया। छात्र सरकारी व प्राइवेट िोनों
दवद्यालयों में पंजीकृत पाये गये। पढने के दलए प्राइवेट
दवद्यालय में जाते हैं तथा सरकारी सुदविा लेने के दलए
सरकारी दवद्यालय में जाते हैं। अध्यापकों द्वारा भी छात्रों
की फजी इन्िी करके दवद्यालय में छात्रों की संख्या
अदिक दिखाया जाता है तथा उनको दमलने वाली
सुदविाओं का िुरूपयोग दकया जाता है।
• प्राइवेट दवद्यालय प्रदतवषा दकताबें बिल
िेते हैं दजस कारण पुरानी दकताबें प्रदतवषा कुड़े में चली
जाती हैं दजससे दशक्षा महंगी होती चली जा रही है।
आज से लगभग 20-25 वषा पहले एक दकताब से
लगभग िसों लोग पढा करते थे। बड़े भाई-बहन की
दकताब छोटे भाई-बहन पढा करते थे दजससे
अदभभावक पर बच्चों की पढाई पर कम खचा होता था।
• सरकारी दवद्यालयों में प्रदतवषा दनःशुलक
दकताबें बच्चों में बॉटी जाती है दकन्तु पुरानी दकताबें
जमा नहीं करायी जाती दजससे सरकार पर अत्यदिक
भार बढता जा रहा है और दशक्षा महंगी होती जा रही
है।
• दनःशुलक िी गई दकताबे सत्र समाप्त होने
पर जमा करा ली जानी चादहए तथा उनकी बाइदन्डग
करा के नये सत्र के छात्रों को दवतररत की जानी चादहए,
जो छात्र पुरानी दकताबें नहीं जमा करते उनसे दकताब
का शुलक जमा कराया जाय।
• वन नेशन वन एजुकेशन की अविारणा
होनी चादहए। सरकारी और प्राइवेट दवद्यालयों में एक ही
दकताब होनी चादहए तादक दशक्षा का एक आिार हो
ऐसा न होने पर अलग अलग दवद्यालयों में दशक्षा ग्रहण
कर रहे छात्रों के बौदद्धक तथा तादकाक दवकास में
असामानता होती है दजस कारण प्रदतयोगी परीक्षाओं में
िो अलग अलग पैटना से पढे छात्रों को असुदविा होती
है।
• आज के तकनीकी और आिुदनक युग में
दवद्यालयों में भी तकनीकी दशक्षा को महत्व दिया जाना
चादहए। हमें चीन व जापान से सीख लेनी चादहए वहाूँ
की दशक्षा बेरोजगार नही पैिा करती। आवासीय
दवद्यालय ज्यािा होने चादहए जहाूँ बच्चे दवद्यालय में
रहकर दशक्षा ग्रहण करें तथा अपने काम स्वयं करें और
अनुशासन में रहना सीखें।
• दजस समय दवद्यालय के पास भवन नही
थे सुदविायें नही थे दवद्यालय आम व महुआ के पेड़ के
नीचे चला करते थे दशक्षक को वेतन बहुत कम दमलता
था उस समय दवद्यालय में दशक्षा अच्छी हुआ करती थी
और बच्चों की संख्या बहुत अदिक रहा करती थी,
दशक्षक भी बड़ी मेहनत से काया करते थे। आज इसका
उलटा है भवन है, सुदविायें है, दशक्षक हैं, दशक्षक को
अच्छा वेतन दमलता है दकन्तु दवद्यालय में छात्र नहीं हैं,
दशक्षक पढाने नहीं आते। पररषिीय दवद्यालयों में दशक्षा
का स्तर बहुत दगर गया है।

दवद्यालय फामा प्रबन्िन सुझाव
• दनरीक्षण के िौरान यह पाया
गया दक दजन दवद्यालयों के पास कृदष फामा
की भूदम पायी गई है उनके द्वारा इसका
उपयोग नही दकया जा रहा है।
• दवद्यालय फामा की जमीन पर
अवैि कब्जे पाये गये, एक बार ठेके पर
भूदम प्राप्त कर लेने पर लोग अवैि कब्जा
कर लेते हैं।
• दवद्यालय फामा की भूदम को
ठेके पर उठाने पर प्राप्त िनरादश गबन दकया
गया, कृदष ठेके की िनरादश को दवद्यालय
के दवकास के दलए प्रयोग नहीं दकया गया।
• दवद्यालय की जो कृदष भूदम
है उसे दवद्यालय द्वारा बाउन्ड्रीवाल बनाकर
या लोहे के एन्गल और कटीले तार
लगाकर उसमें लकड़ी वाले वृक्ष जैसे
पापुलर, युकेदलप्टस लगाये जा सकते हैं जो
10 वषा में स्कूल के दलए अच्छी आय का
स्त्रोत बन सकते हैं।

• दवद्यालय की खाली पड़ी
भूदम पर खेल ग्राउण्ड, दमनी स्टेदडयम या
दवद्यालय अपने अन्य उपयोग में ले सकता
है। खाली भूदम पर गाूँव के लोग कब्जा
करने लगते हैं अतः दवद्यालय फामा की
भूदम को खाली नहीं छोड़ना चादहए।
580 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES
• दवद्यालय फामा को दनयदमत
रूप से ठेके पर िेकर उससे प्राप्त आय को
दवद्यालय के दवकास के रूप में खचा कर
दवद्यालय का दवकास दकया जा सकता है।
• दवद्यालयों को कृदष भूदम
इसदलए िी जाती थी क्योंदक बच्चों से कृदष
करायी जाती थी। उनको छोटे-छोटे भू-भाग
उपलब्ि करा के अलग-अलग प्रकार की
फसलें उगाने के दलए कहा जाता था।
दजससे दवद्यादथायों को कृदष से संबंदित
जानकारी होती थी। आज दवद्यालय ने यह
सब कराना बन्ि कर दिया है।

Some
more
suggestions
apart from consolidate report

Education is one of
the
key
factors
that
significantly determines the
development
of
any
country. Thus, it must and
ought to change according
to the needs of the times
and the changing scenario.
It provides an opportunity
to
reflect
seriously
on
humanity's
social,
economic, cultural, ethical
and spiritual issues.
The
National
Education Policy, 2020 (for
brevity referred as NEP,
2020 hereinafter) is the
first Education Policy of
the 21st century which aims
to address the various
growing
developmental
imperatives of our country.
It
is
built
on
the
foundational
pillars
of
Access,
Equity,
Quality,
Affordability
and
Accountability.
With emphasis on
the early childhood care
and
education.
The
foundation stage is further
divided into 2 parts i.e. 3
years of pre-school or
Anganwadi, followed by
classes 1 & 2 in a primary
school. This will cover
children of ages 3 to 8
years. The focus of studies
will be in activity based
learning. Preparatory stage
is from class 3 to 5 which
will cover children of the
ages 8 to 11 years. It will
gradually
introduce
subjects
like
speaking,
reading, writing, physical
education, language, art,
science and mathematics.
Middle stage is from class
6 to 8 which will cover
children of the ages 11 to
13 years. It will introduce
children to more abstract
concept of mathematics,
science, social sciences,
arts and humanities. When
we
visited
checked
it
composite schools upto 8th
standard,
we
from
touchstone of foundational
pillars of NEP, 2020. These
schools are established in
villages for the purposes of
easy
accessibility
and
affordability
which
are
accomplished
with
its
establishment
but
these
schools are lacking equity
and
quality
education
except few ones. So far as
the
question
of
accountability
is
12 All. Jai Bhagwan Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.
581
concerned, we found that
teachers in most of schools
haven't
sense
of
responsibility
towards
students. Those schools,
which are well maintained
and
students
are
well
equipped with the subjects
are outcome of their hardwork as well as of their
teachers.
It is pertinent to
mention here that schools,
namely, P.M. Shri Uchcha
Prathamik
Vidyalay,
Mohiuddinpur,
Vikas
Khand
Meerut
Gramin,
Meerut
and
Uchcha
Prathamik
Vidyalay,
Bahlolpur, Meerut have a
well equipped Adharshila
lab which provide the best
way
to
learn
about
technology,
science
and
space. Students were able
to learn all about those
topics
in
school
using
different working models
and electronic devices. A
dream concept is designed
for students from which
they will know about the
possible
career
opportunities in which they
can build their future with
a concept of learning by
doing at an early age when
they are still developing
their cognitive faculty. The
idea behind Adharshila is
to make sure that every
child
has
access
to
scientific lab regardless of
their location or socioeconomic status. This way
every child may get an
opportunity for learning
something new even if they
don't have access to these
scientific instruments and
computers at home.
Since
we
have
checked, and realized the
ground realities prevailing
in those schools, we are in
a position to give certain
suggestions in order to
improve
the
pathetic
conditions
of
composite
schools:-
(i) There must be
Adharshila lab in each and
every school and every
endeavour be made for its
establishment. In fact, this
novel concept of this type
of lab is in consonance
with
the
Fundamental
Duties
enshrined
under
Article
51A(h)
of
the
Constitution of India. For
ready
reference,
it
is
reproduced as under-
"It shall be the
duty of every citizen of
India-(h) to develop the
scientific temper, humanism
and the spirit of inquiry
and reform;"
(ii) There should be
frequent surprise checking
of composite schools by
their higher authorities of
the department so that
teachers of school shall
discharge their duties with
sense of accountability and
could
not
shun
their
responsibility.
582 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES
(iii) Last but not
the least the government
schemes meant for the
betterment
and
development of children
especially in the field of
education and large money
is spent on these may not
go in waste due to laxity on
the part of any of its
stakeholders."

7. Sri Hrishabh Shukla and Ms.
Diksha
Shukla,
Research
Associates
attached with me have also given following
suggestions:

(I)
Bio-metric
attendance
for
Teachers
should
be
made
compulsory to ensure their
attendance.
(II) Installation of
digital
equipments
(CC
Cameras, Voice Recorders)
for surveillance of classes,
supervised by an officer of
Block level.
(III) There should
be
education
awareness
drive and campaign in
every village conducted by
Teachers of School.
(IV) Attendance of
atleast 70% should be made
mandatory
for
every
student to appear in annual
examination.
(V) District Basic
Education
Officer
concerned
should
visit
every school atleast twice
in a year for the purpose of
inspection and to remove
shortcomings.
(VI)
Teachers
should be appointed on
basis of subject and classes
and not on basis of strength
of students of School.
(VII)
Duty
of
Teachers
should
be
confined for teaching only
and
there
should
be
separate staff for other kind
of work.
(VIII) Benefits of
Government schemes to
students
should
be
in
proportion
to
their
attendance and not merely
on basis of admission so
that attendance of students
be increased.
(IX)
ParentTeachers meeting should be
conducted
atleast
on
monthly
basis
so
that
guardians are also aware
about education system and
also give their suggestions.

(X)
Morning
assembly in school should
be conducted in presence of
all
Teachers
and
the
Teacher,
not
present,
should be marked as absent
because of presence of
Teachers
will
maintain
discipline in students as
well
as
boost
the
confidence of parents.

(XI) There should
be proper staff to ensure
cleanliness in School and
Village Pradhan should be
held accountable on failure
of cleanliness.
12 All. Pradeep Kumar Vs. State of U.P. & Anr.
583
8. In aforesaid circumstances, this
public interest litigation is disposed of with
following directions:

(I) No School's Farm land
will be leased out without a
reasoned decision taken by above
referred Committee of concerned
School.
(II) The Committee shall
consider the condition of earlier
lease,
their
consideration
and
whether earlier income generated
was deposited in School's account
or not. Committee shall also take
note of antecedent of lessee.
(III)
District
Basic
Education Officer, Meerut will take
note of shortcomings pointed out in
report and will take necessary steps
to address.
(IV)
District
Basic
Education Officer, Meerut will
communicate all 53 Schools of
District Meerut about this order.
(V)
District
Magistrate,
Meerut as well as District Basic
Education Officer, Meerut will take
note of report and its suggestions
and take all efforts to implement it,
as far as possible, if there is no
legal impediment and if necessary
be forwarded to Higher Authority
for consideration.

9. A copy of this order alongwith
report and supplementary suggestions be
sent to District Magistrate, Meerut and
District Basic Education Officer, Meerut
and for that Office of Advocate General
will take appropriate steps.

10. The Court extends it's
gratitude towards Sri Vipul Kumar and Sri
Rai Sahab Yadav, Advocates as well as Sri
Hrishabh Shukla and Ms. Diksha Shukla,
Research Associates, for their valuable
assistance.
----------
(2024) 12 ILRA 583
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
CIVIL SIDE
DATED: ALLAHABAD 06.12.2024

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE SAUMITRA DAYAL SINGH, J.
THE HON'BLE DONADI RAMESH, J.

Writ -A No. 4810 of 2021

Pradeep Kumar ...Petitioner
Versus
State of U.P. & Anr. ...Respondents

Counsel for the Petitioner:
Siddhartha Khare, Sr. Advocate

Counsel for the Respondents:
C.S.C.

Official
Secrets
Act,1923
-
Judicial
Service
(Direct
Recruitment)
Examination-
petitioner
applied
and
disclosed that he was charged and tried at
session trials of criminal cases-iIt was also
disclosed that petitioner was acquitted at
those trials-petitioner participated in the
selection
process.
He
was
declared
successful. He secured merit position twentyseven. No material exists to reach a
conclusion that the petitioner may have
worked for any foreign intelligence agencythe petitioner was "honorably acquitted" at
two criminal trials faced by him -those orders
have attained finality.

Writ Petition allowed. (E-9)

List of Cases cited:

1. Avtar Singh Vs U.O.I. & ors. (2016) 8 SCC
471

2. Joginder Singh Vs Union Territory of
Chandigarh & ors., (2015) 2 SCC 377