Kochi, July 23:
Kerala High Court Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar on Wednesday took suo moto cognisance of a letter written by nearly 200 students of SNDP Higher Secondary School in Kainakary Grama Panchayat, Kuttanad, Alappuzha district. The students informed the court that their school has been submerged under floodwater for over a month due to continuous heavy rains, severely disrupting academic activities.
The letter highlighted that 20 classrooms are submerged up to the windowsill level, and classes are currently being held in just four unaffected rooms, including the library and computer lab. Despite repeated appeals to the authorities, no effective action has been taken so far, the students noted.
Responding to the students’ appeal, the High Court bench issued an interim order directing the Alappuzha District Collector to convene a joint meeting with officials from the Education and Agriculture Departments, school representatives, and other concerned authorities. The Collector has been asked to assess the ground reality and take necessary remedial steps. The court has scheduled the next hearing on July 31, by which time an action-taken report must be submitted.
The bench also observed that the issue may not be limited to a single school and directed the Collector to investigate if other schools in the region are facing similar problems. “The court may consider addressing the broader issue and long-term solutions for flood-prone schools,” it observed.
To support the proceedings, the court appointed an amicus curiae and made Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) a respondent. The District Legal Services Authority has been tasked with conducting a detailed fact-finding exercise and updating the amicus accordingly.
The court’s strong intervention comes shortly after the tragic electrocution of a Class 8 student in a nearby school, prompting widespread concern over student safety.
