The Supreme Court ( SC) on Thursday refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which sought to challenge the restrictions imposed by education authorities in states such as Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on the entry of outsiders, YouTubers, social media users and civil society representatives into government schools.
The plea also challenged curbs on videography, photography, interviews, audio recordings and livestreaming on school premises.
SC junks plea filed under Article 32
A bench of the top court, comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe turned down the petition filed by Priya Mishra, The bench noted, “We are not inclined to entertain the writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India,” according to a report.
The petition had drawn attention amid the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign, whose objective is to highlight alleged deficiencies in basic facilities and dilapidated infrastructure in government schools.
Mishra’s petition challenged a circular released by Rajasthan’s Director of Secondary Education, dated August 16, 2026. In the circular, outsiders were required to obtain prior approval from the school principal before entering the government school premises.
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Furthermore, it also mandated a written permission in advance for photography, videography, interviews, audio recording and livestreaming inside schools.
The plea also mentioned an August 19 order issued by the District Basic Education Officer in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya. The order instructed that outsiders, YouTubers and social media users be barred from entering council schools or capturing photos and videos without permission from the competent authority.
The petitioner claimed that similar orders have also been issued in several other districts of UP, such as Azamgarh, Ballia, Basti, Balrampur, Shamli and Agra.
Petitioner cites fundamental rights
The petitioner contended that the restrictions infringe fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g), 21 and 21-A of the Indian Constitution.
She argued that the right to freedom of speech and expression encompasses legitimate journalistic activities and the dissemination of information concerning public institutions. Concurrently, the petition acknowledged the state’s responsibility to shield children’s dignity, safety and privacy.
Haryana too tightens access to schools
The restrictions come against the backdrop of similar measures in Haryana. The state’s Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda said unauthorised entry into government schools across the state had been prohibited.
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CJP activists had paid visits to government schools located in several villages of Haryana as part of their campaign. The outfit has alleged shortcomings in infrastructure, sanitation, staff availability and the quality of mid-day meals served to students.