The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has directed the deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Lucknow, to intimate 17 city schools about the need to install security cameras outside the school premises and also of the expenses involved.
A division bench of justice Alok Mathur and justice Brij Raj Singh passed the order on August 18 (uploaded on Friday), while hearing a PIL filed by the Gomti River Bank Residents’ Welfare Association, pertaining to safety issues and traffic problems near schools in the state capital. The 17 schools are respondents in the petition. “There was a proposal with regard to engaging female drivers in school vans to ensure the safety of school children, and the opinion of the State Government was sought in this regard vide order dated 30.07.2026.
It was submitted that various incidents have been reported regarding children being sexually harassed by the drivers of these vehicles. On the issue that there are thousands of schools in UP where high tension electricity lines are passing over the school building, the court had directed to communicate this issue to the competent authority and seek views in this regard, on the next date of listing. Another concern expressed was with regard to buses and vans ferrying students to and from schools. In the absence of any representation on behalf of the Transport Department, complete instructions could not be furnished to this Court.
“In the aforesaid circumstances, the Additional Chief Secretary, Transport, State of U.P., Lucknow, is directed to remain present before this Court along with the relevant record on the next date of listing(September7)”, the court ordered.
