The Allahabad High Court on Friday took suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report highlighting the plight of 200+ 'Gen Alpha' students in Chandupur village of Hamirpur District in Uttar Pradesh, who had to walk 5 kilometers along with their parents to protest before the District Magistrate over the lack of a road to their school.

A Bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra took note of a Dainik Jagaran report published on August 12, 2026, concerning the protest by the schoolchildren and their parents at the office of the District Magistrate, Hamirpur.

The Court observed that the children walking 5 kilometers as part of the agitation “reflects the magnitude of difficulties being faced by them.”

According to the newspaper report taken note of by the High Court, several schoolchildren from the Village, along with their parents, had to 'agitate' at the District Magistrate's office because of the lack of a road to their school.

The newspaper report further indicated that the District Collector had stated that construction of the road was the responsibility of the Public Works Department (PWD).

The Executive Engineer of the PWD had also admitted that approximately 1.5 kilometers of the road was in bad condition. According to the report, the work had been held up due to the lack of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Forest Department.

The report stated that a proposal worth ₹1.81 crore had been submitted for the work and that construction would commence upon receipt of the budget.

Taking note of the situation, the Bench observed thus:

"The above status pertaining to the road leading to a children's school in a village wherein the small school going children have to agitate before the District Collector for a work, which is the responsibility of the State, cannot be countenanced".

The Bench accordingly decided to take suo moto cognizance of the newspaper report and directed the registry to title the same as 'In Re: Road to School, Hamirpur Vs. State of U.P. and others'.

It also issued notices to the State of Uttar Pradesh; the District Magistrate, Hamirpur; the Principal Secretary, Public Works Department, U.P., Lucknow; the Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Hamirpur; and the Principal Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, U.P., Lucknow, as party respondents.

Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal and Additional Chief Standing AK Goyal were directed to accept notice on behalf of the two respondents. They have been directed to respond to the facts of the situation and the steps being taken by the State to remedy it, without any further delay.

The matter has been listed for August 24, 2026.

The newspaper report was also annexed to the Court's order and a copy of the order and the report was directed to be supplied to the State's law officers.

Background

According to the media reports, more than 200 school students and at least 50 parents from Chandupur village marched to the District Collectorate on August 11, 2026, carrying the national flag and raising slogans over the long-pending demand for a proper road to their school.

The protest was triggered by the poor condition of the existing unpaved road, which residents said becomes almost unusable during the monsoon. Students and parents said the muddy road makes it difficult for children to reach school and also creates problems in taking sick residents to hospitals and health centers.

The protesters said an alternative route earlier used by villagers had also been closed by the Forest Department which further restricted their access to the area.

Earlier, temporary work was done on the road, however, it failed to provide a lasting solution. According to local residents, the road turned to mud again after the rains began.

When the students and parents reached the Collectorate, local officials and police, including the SDM and CO, reached the spot. The protesters nevertheless continued towards the District Magistrate's office. However, they were eventually pacified after discussions tookm place with the officials.

Case title: In Re : Road to School, Hamirpur Vs. State of U.P. and others

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