The Punjab & Haryana High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the increasing dropout rates among village girls in Punjab due to the absence of dedicated Higher Secondary Schools for them. The issue came to light when a news report highlighted the plight of students along the Patiala-Rajpura Highway, where a significant number of girls have been forced to discontinue their education due to the lack of nearby schools and safe transportation facilities.
Court Calls for a Fresh Affidavit from the Punjab Government
In response to the issue, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel expressed concern over the Punjab Government’s reply, which primarily focused on co-educational schools. The Court made it clear that its primary concern, as raised in its hearing on July 25, 2024, was the complete absence of High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools exclusively for girls in the affected region.
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"Reply filed by the State of Punjab essentially pertains to co-ed schools, but this Court while taking cognizance in the matter on 25.07.2024 was essentially disturbed by a news item where there was no High School or Higher Secondary School, especially for girls, as a result of which lot many drop out from their schools." - Punjab & Haryana High Court
Acknowledging the urgency of the matter, the Court has directed the Punjab Government to file a fresh affidavit detailing its policy on establishing Higher Secondary Schools for girls and explaining why there are none available in the affected areas.
Unsafe Travel and Poor Infrastructure: Barriers to Education
According to the newspaper report that triggered the Court’s intervention, the lack of safe and affordable transport options is one of the main reasons for the increasing dropout rate among girls. Many students from over ten villages along the Patiala-Rajpura Highway struggle to continue their education due to these challenges.
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"The poor condition of the roads and the high cost of private transportation pose significant challenges to students. A majority of them, be it boys or girls, have to walk 3 km on the broken road before they reach the highway and get transport to their schools. Most residents in these villages are small-scale farmers and farm laborers who rely on government schools for the education of their children." - Newspaper Report
This statement highlights the severe transportation difficulties faced by these students, which disproportionately affect young girls whose families often hesitate to send them to distant schools due to safety concerns.
Court Seeks Comprehensive Policy on Girls’ Education
Previously, the Court had instructed the Punjab State Counsel to provide a clear policy on the establishment of Higher Secondary Schools for girls and to justify the absence of such institutions along this crucial stretch of Punjab. Despite this, the government's response has been inadequate, leading to the latest directive from the Court.
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The matter has been listed for further hearing on April 7, 2025. The Court expects a well-documented response from the State Government, ensuring a clear roadmap for improving girls' access to secondary education in these rural areas.
"Let a fresh affidavit be filed by the State of Punjab." - High Court Order
Mr. Salil Sabhlok, Senior Deputy Advocate General, Punjab.
Title: Court on its own motion v. State of Punjab through its Chief Secretary
