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had previously challenged this ruling before the Supreme Court through a special leave petition, the case was later withdrawn.#maharashtra_government #bombay_high_court #liladhar_thakre #vijay_kombe #wardha_unit
