HC slams Delhi govt for not opening school in Kirari: 'Authorities concerned lack the needed push'

This order was issued six years after a local NGO had submitted a petition citing the total lack of a government school within a 3-4 km radius of the area

The Delhi High Court has rapped the Delhi government and its agencies for failing to open a newly constructed government school in Northwest Delhi’s Kirari despite the building being ready and staff already appointed.

The court has directed that all deficiencies be fixed and the school be made functional by July 15 without fail. It remarked: "It seems the concerned authorities do not have the required will to initiate the operation of the school… the infrastructure that has been developed is still to be utilized. Such a strategy cannot be welcomed for the reason that even though the government has spent public money, the school is not operating since no admissions could be made."

This move is made six years after an area NGO had brought a petition to notice indicating the total lack of a government school in a 3-4 km radius in the area.

The Indian Express dated May 16 mentioned that two government schools, one of which is the Kirari school, have been idle for months since inauguration. The Kirari school had been inaugurated by the former AAP government earlier this January.

The case was registered in 2019 by Hamara Prayas Samajik Utthan, an NGO that works on education rights. The HC had dismissed the case then after ordering the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to provide land for the school. The land was provided, and the Prem Nagar 3 building in Kirari was built and opened in January 2025.

But more than a year after that, the school is still not open.

On 21 May this year, a division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela again heard the case after the petitioner NGO submitted a new application requesting directions to make the school operational.

The court considered inspection reports of two meetings conducted in April and May this year. The reports enumerated various serious issues in the school building:

There is no electricity since the connection cost has yet to be approved in the budget.

The septic tank capacity is too small to accommodate the anticipated 4,000 students.

No sewage connection or any other system for wastewater disposal exists.

All the science and vocational labs are unfinished, having no plumbing or fittings.

Building has uncovered balconies, stair gaps, and unlocked rooftop gates, which the court said were hazardous to children.

Furniture is lacking, particularly for the main wing.

"Notice of electric connection has already been placed by TPDDL, yet the budget has not been released to the electricity department of the PWD by the Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi. The matter has been taken up with the higher authorities for further action," said the PWD.

There is no approach road to the school, and it is practically challenging for students and faculty to access it. In this context, officials in meetings directed the school head to remind the DDA on constructing an approach road to the school.

All these issues, the court observed, have been well known to the government for months now, yet nothing has progressed. "Such an approach cannot be appreciated," said the bench, "… The school, as we have been told, is to accommodate 4,000 children in the area, which, by itself, should have induced the authorities to make the school operational."

The court has directed the issue to be put directly before the Secretary, Department of Education, who must himself ensure that all issues that are pending are settled and the school commences operation by July 15.

"During this period, the deficiencies… may be made good by all departments concerned in all respects," the order stated.

The court also asked the DDA to start working immediately on building the access road to the school and complete the work at the earliest.

In order to prevent the school from losing another academic year, the bench ordered the Education Department to initiate the admission process straight away and provide extensive publicity, calling for students to apply. Affidavits of progress should be filed by Secretary of Education and DDA V-C by July 23 in the next hearing.