Supreme Court Rejects Petition Against School Entry Restrictions in UP, Rajasthan

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a public interest litigation that challenged restrictions on entry to government schools in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The decision was reported by Live Law and other Indian news outlets on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

The petition was filed amid a campaign led by the Chief Justice of India, which the reports describe as a "School Thik Karo" initiative. According to ThePrint, the court dismissed the PIL challenging curbs on "outsiders" in government schools in the two states. Scroll.in and The Times of India also confirmed that the court declined to hear the matter.

The exact nature of the entry restrictions was not detailed in the available reports. However, the legal challenge appears to have been brought by petitioners who argued that the curbs were unlawful or discriminatory. The Supreme Court's decision means the restrictions will remain in place, at least for now, without a full hearing on their merits.

The reports do not specify which judges presided over the dismissal or the precise legal reasoning given by the court. Live Law noted that the plea was dismissed in the context of the Chief Justice's ongoing campaign, which suggests the court may have viewed the petition as unnecessary or premature.

supreme court

This ruling comes as Indian courts continue to grapple with questions about access to public education and the scope of judicial oversight over state policies. The "School Thik Karo" campaign, referenced in The Tribune's coverage, appears to be a broader effort by the judiciary to address issues affecting government-run schools.

Observers will now watch whether the petitioners pursue other legal avenues or whether state governments in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan introduce further changes to their school entry policies. The Supreme Court's dismissal does not set a binding precedent on the underlying issue, leaving room for future challenges.