Supreme Court judge criticizes education funding amid school closures

Justice Prasann B. Varale of the Supreme Court expressed alarm over the deteriorating state of government schools during recent proceedings, highlighting a stark disparity in public spending priorities. The judge noted that even 0.1 percent of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela's budget would be sufficient to keep numerous government schools operational and prevent their closure. The Simhastha Kumbh, a major religious congregation held in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, typically receives substantial budgetary allocations for its organization and infrastructure development. Justice Varale's remarks underscore growing judicial concern about the underfunding of primary and secondary education in India, where thousands of government schools face closure due to inadequate resources and poor infrastructure. The judge's comments reflect broader concerns among legal experts and educators about the need to prioritize educational investments to strengthen the country's public schooling system and ensure equitable access to learning opportunities for disadvantaged children.