Munish Sood
Mandi
In a sharp indictment of the Himachal Pradesh government’s handling of public education infrastructure, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has questioned why hundreds of students of Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) Deori in Mandi are still studying in an unsafe rented building while a fully constructed government school campus remains locked and unused.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Vipin Chandra Negi sought an explanation from the state government, asking why the completed school building has not been made operational despite being ready for use.
The court issued notices to the Secretary (Education), Director of Higher Education, Deputy Commissioner of Mandi, Deputy Director of Higher Education (Mandi), and the Principal of GSSS Deori, directing them to file detailed replies within one week. The matter will next be heard on July 22, 2026.
The PIL, filed by local resident Kunjlal, paints a disturbing picture of political priorities overtaking public welfare. According to submissions made before the High Court, Education Minister Rohit Thakur had already reached the school to inaugurate the new campus. Invitation cards had been distributed and the stage was set. However, the inauguration was allegedly called off midway, the inauguration plaque was removed, and the event was abandoned.
The petitioner alleged that the launch was stalled because the government wanted Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi to inaugurate the building during a future visit. If true, the allegation raises uncomfortable questions over whether political optics have taken precedence over children’s safety and their right to quality education.
While the completed building reportedly remains locked, students continue to attend classes in a rented structure that has been described in court as unsafe and inadequate. With the monsoon season intensifying across Himachal Pradesh, parents have expressed growing concern over the safety of their children.
The High Court’s intervention has now shifted the spotlight from a delayed inauguration to a larger question of governance and administrative accountability. The court has effectively asked the government to justify why a taxpayer-funded public asset is lying idle while students continue to study in conditions that have been challenged as unsafe.
The government’s response before the High Court next week is likely to determine whether the delay was the result of administrative reasons or whether political considerations outweighed the immediate interests of schoolchildren. Until then, the locked gates of the new Deori school campus remain a stark reminder of a controversy where the fight over credit has overshadowed the urgency of providing students with a safe place to learn.
the story:
A Controversy Months in the Making
The dispute did not arise overnight. The new Government Senior Secondary School building at Deori has reportedly been ready for several months. According to the petitioner, the inauguration was scheduled and Education Minister Rohit Thakur had even reached the venue. Invitation cards had been printed, banners were put up and arrangements were complete. However, the programme was abruptly called off, the inauguration plaque was removed and the function was cancelled midway. The petitioner alleged before the High Court that the building remained locked thereafter due to political considerations, with local reports suggesting that the government wanted Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi to inaugurate the school during a future visit. The state government is yet to place its version before the High Court.
Meanwhile, the Cost Has Been Paid by Students
While the political controversy continued, students were allegedly left studying in a rented and unsafe building despite a fully completed government-funded campus standing locked. The High Court has now demanded answers from the state government, making it clear that the issue is no longer merely about an inauguration but about administrative accountability and the safety of schoolchildren. The government’s reply is due before the next hearing on July 22, 2026.
