The Supreme Court has refused to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the restrictions imposed on the entry of outsiders—including journalists, YouTubers, social media users, and civil society representatives—into government schools in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as well as the bans on photography, videography, interviews, audio recording, and live-streaming without permission.
उत्तर प्रदेश-राजस्थान के सरकारी स्कूलों में मीडिया-सोशल एक्टिविस्ट की एंट्री पर रोक बरकरार, चुनौती देने वाली PIL पर सुनवाई से SC का इनकार
The Supreme Court has refused to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the restrictions imposed on the entry of outsiders, journalists, YouTubers, social media users, and civil society representatives into government schools in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
A bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe, while hearing the petition filed by Priya Mishra, stated that it was not inclined to entertain the writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. The petition specifically challenged a circular issued on August 16, 2026, by the Director of Secondary Education, Rajasthan. This circular mandated obtaining prior permission from the school principal for any outsider to enter government school premises.
Where were the directives issued in UP?
Additionally, provisions were made requiring prior written permission for photography, videography, interviews, audio recording, and live-streaming within schools. The petition also cited an order issued on August 19 by the District Basic Education Officer of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. This order directed that outsiders, YouTubers, and individuals associated with social media be prevented from entering council schools or capturing photos and videos without the permission of the competent authority. According to the petition, similar directives have been issued in several other districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Azamgarh, Ballia, Basti, Balrampur, Shamli, and Agra.
Matter linked to the ‘Fix the Schools’ campaign
The petition was filed against the backdrop of the “School Theek Karo” (Fix the Schools) campaign run by the Kakroch Janata Party. The petitioner argued that documenting the condition of government schools in the public interest and disseminating that information to the public could not be completely prohibited. The petition claimed a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g), 21, and 21-A of the Constitution. The petitioner argued that freedom of expression encompasses legitimate journalism and the dissemination of information regarding public institutions. However, the petition also acknowledged the State’s obligation to protect the privacy, dignity, and safety of children.
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear the Matter
The petition further contended that there is a distinction between recording a photograph or video that reveals a child’s identity and documenting the condition of a government school’s infrastructure—such as classrooms, toilets, drinking water facilities, electricity, mid-day meal arrangements, and other basic amenities. The petitioner had sought the quashing of the relevant orders issued by Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to the extent that they imposed broad or absolute bans on such documentation carried out in the public interest. It was also argued that any such restriction must satisfy the tests of reasonableness, necessity, and proportionality. However, the Supreme Court declined to entertain the petition.
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