'Concerned': Calcutta High Court Orders State To Reply To PIL Seeking Road Access For Students Forced To Walk On Marshland To Reach School
Srinjoy Das
14 Sept 2026 11:24 AM IST
The Calcutta High Court has expressed concern over the lack of an access road to two schools in South 24 Parganas, observing that students were being forced to wade through marshy land to reach a newly constructed school building for midday meals.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty made the observation while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Rabindranath Saha seeking a road connection to Baneswarpur RDBPM School from the nearest main road.
The Court noted that the school was presently surrounded by marshy land and persons seeking to reach the institution had to make their way through such land.
"We are concerned about the school being conducted in a healthy atmosphere and secure the future of the students who are taking education in the two schools," the Bench observed.
The Court was particularly concerned about the difficulties faced by students of Baneswarpur RDBPM School and ROSA Dogachha FP School, who were required to reach the new building of Baneswarpur RDBPM School to have their midday meals.
"The school students reach the new building at Baneswarpur RDBPM school for taking their midday meals and are in a great difficulty because there is no access road for the students," the Court recorded.
The State's counsel submitted that an affidavit would be filed within two weeks, providing a clear picture of the situation. The counsel also submitted that the PIL was not an adversarial litigation.
The Bench directed that the affidavit-in-opposition be filed on or before September 24, 2026, and listed the matter under the Urgent Admission category on September 28.
Meanwhile, the Court directed the petitioner's advocate to prepare a sketch map showing the portion of the road that has already been concretised, the location of both schools and the distance of each school from the concretised road.
The Court also permitted the petitioner to add the District Panchayat and Rural Development Officer, South 24 Parganas, as a respondent and directed that the addition be carried out forthwith.
Case: RABINDRANATH SAHA Vs THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL & Ors.
Case No: WPA(P) 387 OF 2026
