The Rajasthan High Court has recently issued a significant order banning the use of over 86,000 dilapidated classrooms in government schools across the state. The court has directed that these classrooms be locked and that students not be allowed to enter them, prioritizing student safety.

This decision was made by a Bench of Justices Mahendra Kumar Goyal and Ashok Kumar Jain on Friday, August 22, 2025, in response to a government survey conducted after a tragic school roof collapse in Jhalawar in July 2025. The Jhalawar incident resulted in the deaths of seven students and injuries to eight others, highlighting the urgent need to address the unsafe conditions of school buildings.

The survey revealed alarming statistics about the state of government schools in Rajasthan. According to the report, Rajasthan has 63,018 government schools with 5,26,162 classrooms. Of these, 86,934 classrooms were found to be completely dilapidated. The survey also indicated that 5,667 schools were entirely unsafe for use. Furthermore, the survey highlighted the poor condition of sanitation facilities, with 17,109 toilets marked as dilapidated and 29,093 requiring repairs.

In light of these findings, the High Court has also asked the state government to make suitable alternative arrangements to ensure that the studies of the affected students are not disrupted. The court has sought a technical verification report from engineers and has scheduled the matter for further review on September 4, 2025.

This order follows other incidents highlighting the issue of unsafe school infrastructure in Rajasthan. Days after the Jhalawar tragedy, one student died and two others were injured when the main gate of a school collapsed in Jaisalmer. These incidents have prompted the court to take a strong stance on the safety of students in government schools.

The Rajasthan government has already been taking steps to address the issue of school safety. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had previously instructed officials to set up committees for the safety review of schools, colleges, and other government buildings. These committees are tasked with overseeing timely safety audits, identifying and demolishing unsafe structures, estimating repair requirements, and ensuring the availability of financial and technical resources.

The central government has also taken note of the situation, with the Ministry of Education directing all states and Union Territories to conduct safety audits for schools. This directive came after the Jhalawar school roof collapse and emphasizes the need for thorough assessments of structural integrity, fire safety systems, emergency exits, and electrical wiring. The Ministry has also recommended training staff and students on emergency preparedness and strengthening partnerships with local authorities.

Furthermore, the central government has approved significant funding for education projects in Rajasthan. Approximately Rs 3,900 crore has been allocated for improving education infrastructure in the state, focusing on smart classrooms, ICT labs, and science laboratories.

The Rajasthan High Court's recent order underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of students in government schools. The state government is now tasked with taking swift action to provide alternative arrangements for students affected by the closure of dilapidated classrooms and to implement measures to prevent future tragedies.