The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (August 19) slammed the Maharashtra Government for its 'appalling apathy' in not taking any effective steps for the protection of around 228 school going children, who walk almost 30 kilometres daily from the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) and are exposed to possible wild animals attack.

A division bench of Justice Sharmila Deshmukh and Justice Neeraj Dhote noted that at least 228 students are compelled to walk for nearly four hours a day to reach their schools and return back home by walking through the areas which are prone to human and wild animals conflict.

"The maximum distance is traveled by a child for about 30 kilometers to study in 6th standard, and he walks 4 hours daily, as no transport facility is available. The apathy of the State Government is appalling. There is absolutely no concern for the safety of the children as not even the minimum transport facilities are made available for the students, who are traveling for such a long distance for the purpose of education," the judges remarked in the order.

The bench made the observation while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed earlier this year, highlighting the ordeal of school going children, who have to walk through the Chandoli National Park and Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. The PIL was filed while relying on news items published in two Marathi newspapers in March this year.

On April 2, the bench, then headed by Justice Madhav Jamdar had granted a week's time to the Collector and the Forest Department to identify 'dangerous schools' which are prone to wild attacks in seven days and to further jointly deploy Safe School Transport (SST) for the school going children, escorted by a dedicated Rapid Response Team (RRT). A further directive was issue to provide an Advanced Life Support Ambulance to be stationed at a primary health centre.

However, when the matter was called out the bench noted that the said April 2 order was not at all complied with.

"Despite the order having been passed on April 2, 2026, absolutely nothing has been done by the District Collector and the Forest Department to identify the dangerous schools or to deploy safe school transport for the school children escorted by a dedicated RRT," the bench recorded in the order.

Further the judges noted that the petitioner furnished an affidavit spelling out that a total of 228 students walk through the STR region to reach five such dangerous schools. These students are travelling from eight villages across Sangli district and thus face continuous exposure to wildlife attack.

"Being concerned with this situation, the order of April 2, 2026 was passed, which has been conveniently disregarded by the Respondents Authorities. We cannot countenance such a conduct on behalf of the District Collector and the Forest Department. There is no Affidavit, which has been filed by the District Collector and the Forest Department, showing compliance of the said order. We direct the District Collector and the Forest Department to file Affidavit within a period of one week from today, submitting an explanation for non-compliance of the order dated April 2, 2026," the bench ordered.

While placing the matter for further hearing on August 5, the bench made it clear that if it is not satisfied with the explanation of the concerned authorities, it will be constrained to take a very serious view of the matter.

Appearance:

Advocates Raviraj Biraje and Kartik Patil appeared for the Petitioner.

Chief Government Pleader Neha Bhide along with Assistant Government Pleader TJ Kapre represented the State.

Case Title: Harish Bhimrao Kamble vs State of Maharashtra (Public Interest Litigation 8 of 2026)

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