June 15 School Reopening Amid Vidarbha Heat Under High Court Scrutiny The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday raised concerns about the Maharashtra government’s decision to reopen schools in Vidarbha from June 15, questioning whether children should be required to attend classes during extreme summer heat. The court, presided over by Justice Rajnish Vyas, issued a notice to the state government, directing it to respond by June 9. The matter arose from a petition filed by Vijay Kombe, president of the Wardha unit of the Maharashtra State Primary Education Committee, and Liladhar Thakre, challenging the state’s March 28 circular that mandated school reopenings on June 15. The petition, submitted through counsel Bhanudas Kulkarni, argued that the government’s decision ignored the severe climatic conditions in Vidarbha, where temperatures in June typically range between 42°C and 44°C. Under the circular, schools were instructed to hold classes from 7 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. between June 15 and June 30. Petitioners warned that this schedule could endanger students, particularly in rural areas where many children walk 3 to 5 kilometers daily to reach school. While morning travel might occur during cooler hours, the return journey under harsh afternoon heat could pose significant health risks. The court’s inquiry also referenced a 2007 order from the Nagpur bench of the High Court, which had directed schools in Vidarbha to reopen only after June 30 due to the region’s intense summer conditions. Although the state government had previously challenged this ruling before the Supreme Court through a special leave petition, the case was later withdrawn.#maharashtra_government #bombay_high_court #liladhar_thakre #vijay_kombe #wardha_unit
Parents and Educators in Vidarbha Urge Flexible School Timings Amid Extreme Heat Nagpur: With temperatures in Vidarbha surpassing 44°C, significantly higher than Mumbai’s relatively cooler 35°C, parents and educators from the region have raised concerns about the state government’s decision to maintain school operations until the end of April without adjustments for local climatic conditions. They argue that policies formulated in Mumbai fail to account for the extreme heat faced by students in Vidarbha, prompting calls for a more region-specific approach to school schedules. Parents across Nagpur highlighted the challenges of sending children to school during the intense heat, emphasizing the lack of alternatives due to academic pressure. Agnola Franswah, a parent and teacher, stated, “My elder child is in Class 9, and as a parent, I do not wish to send him to school, but we do not have any other option as there is a lot of syllabus to cover.” Similarly, Preeti Sinha, a mother of a Class 11 student, expressed frustration, saying, “I would have really appreciated it if the school had made online arrangements. Since they haven’t, we are compelled to send our children in this blazing heat.” Several parents suggested revising school timings to early morning hours to minimize exposure to the sun. Monica Somkuwar, another parent, remarked, “Being Nagpurian, we all know that it’s a very hot place, so schools should run from 7am to 10am.” Rita Bhiwankar pointed out logistical difficulties, stating, “It is difficult to pick up and drop my child in this heat. It would have been easier if timings were like summer camps.” Liladhar Thakre, Nagpur district president of Maharashtra Rajya Prathamik Shikshak Samiti, criticized the lack of flexibility in policymaking. “The temperature is not the same everywhere.#nagpur #vidarbha #agnola_franswah #preeti_sinha #liladhar_thakre
