Kerala High Court took suo motu action after students wrote about studying in flooded classrooms for weeks. The Court directed officials to fix the issue and ensure education is not affected.
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KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has taken suo motu action after receiving a letter from students, teachers, and the Principal of SNDP Higher Secondary School in Alappuzha, Kerala.
The letter was sent to Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, raising concerns about students being forced to study in flooded classrooms for more than six weeks, after heavy rains damaged a bund (a wall made to protect paddy fields from water).
On July 23, 2025, the Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji expressed deep concern and said the matter needs immediate attention, especially because classes were still being held in partially flooded buildings.
The Court officially registered a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on its own (suo motu) to deal with the issue.
The judges were shocked to learn that even after such a long time, the classrooms remained waterlogged, affecting the studies and preparation of students for public exams.
They also noted that the problem had been reported many times to the concerned authorities, but no effective action was taken.
“It is stated that despite various representations to the concerned authorities, there was no action by the Paadasekhara Samithi to repair the bund or commence the pumping operations. It is also stated that pumping using motors has not started and the school premises remain flooded. Concerns have also been raised about health hazards due to stagnant water,”
-the Court observed.
This school, which was founded back in 1938, is situated in Kainakari Grama Panchayat in Alappuzha district. The area is below sea level, and the school is located beside Paruthivalavu paddy fields, where a special farming method known as Kuttanad farming is used.
In this method, large bunds (mud walls) are built around the fields to prevent flooding. Once crops are ready, the water is drained out using pumps.
But due to heavy rainfall and flash floods—locally known as Madaveezhcha—a bund broke on May 29, 2025, and floodwater entered the school, submerging around 20 classrooms. Many of the students’ homes were also flooded, and some families even had to shift to other places.
Since the water was not drained properly, the school started shift-based classes—with first-year students attending in the morning and second-year students in the afternoon, using only the classrooms that were not under water. Still, water remained stagnant all around, increasing the risk of serious health issues.
Due to the inaction, the students asked the Court to direct the Paadasekhara Samithi, the Agriculture Department, and the District Collector to fix the broken bund, remove the water, and implement long-term solutions to avoid such problems in the future.
The Court took the matter very seriously and immediately ordered the District Collector of Alappuzha to hold a joint meeting with the Education and Agriculture Departments, the Secretary of Paadasekhara Samithi, and a school representative, so that the situation can be studied and quick action can be taken.
The Court also told all government departments to fully support the District Collector and fixed July 31, 2025, for the next hearing, by which time an action taken report must be submitted.
“Thereafter, the Court may consider taking up the larger issue regarding other schools in the area, if any, and for long term solutions,”
-the Court added.
To help the Court, Advocate Jithin Saji Isaac has been appointed as amicus curiae (a legal expert who assists the Court), and Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) has also been made a party to the case.
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The Court has directed KELSA to conduct a factual investigation through the District Legal Services Authority and help the amicus curiae in making a proper petition for further legal proceedings.
CASE TITLE:
Suo Motu Proceedings initiated by the High Court in waterlogging of SNDP Higher Secondary School.
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