1 2026:CGHC:18493 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 568 of 2026 1 - Janbhagidari Shiksha Samiti Government Higher Secondary School, Padigaon, Through Its Member (Legal) S.S. Panigrahi, S/o Late Shri Kanhucharan Panigrahi, Aged About 65 Years, R/o Village Padigaon, Block Tehsil And P.S. Pussore, District- Raigarh (C.G.) ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Department Of School Education, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) 2 - Chhattisgarh Madhyamik Shiksha Mandal Raipur (Cgbse), Through Its Secretary, At Pension Bada, Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) 3 - Controller Of Examination Chhattisgarh Madhyamik Shiksha Mandal, Raipur (Cgbse), At Pension Bada, Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) 4 - Collector Raigarh, District Raigarh (C.G.) 5 - District Education Officer Raigarh District Raigarh (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Dr. Arham Siddiqui, Advocate. For State/Res : Shri Abhishek Gupta, PL. For Respondent Nos.2 & 3 : Shri Pankaj Agrawal, Advocate. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board 22/04/2026 1. By way of this Writ Petition, the petitioner has prayed for the following reliefs:- 10.1 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue appropriate writ/order/direction to the respondent authorities directing the respondents to restore the earlier examination centre of the students of Government Higher Secondary School, AVINASH SHARMA Digitally signed by AVINASH SHARMA Date: 2026.04.24 09:47:01 +0530 2 Padigaon (Centre Code 351137) at the said school itself for the forthcoming CGBSE Board Examinations, 2026 for Class X and Class XII, and further direct the respondent authorities to permit the students to appear in their Board Examination for Class X and Class XII at Government Higher Secondary School, Padigaon (Centre Code 351137) itself. 10.2 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue appropriate writ/order/direction and declare that the impugned action of the respondents whereby the examination centre of the students has been shifted to Swami Atmanand Govt. Utkrisht English Medium School, Pussore, Raigarh, is arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of Articles 14, 21 and 21-A of the Constitution of India. 10.3 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue appropriate writ/order/direction and direct the respondents to frame and implement a fair, transparent and student-friendly policy while determining examination centres, particularly for rural, girl, and specially-abled students. 10.4 Any other relief, which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper, may also be passed in favour of the petitioner together with cost of the petition. 2. Necessary facts of the case are that the petitioner society, Janbhagidari Shiksha Samiti (Public Participation Committee) is a governing body, particularly in government colleges and schools, designed to bridge the gap between educational institutions and the community. Its primary function is to foster transparency, accountability, and local involvement in the planning, development, and management of educational institutions. The president of the society is nominated by the In-Charge Minister and the Secretary of the Society is the Principal of the relevant school/college, and they act as an intermediary between the government and the students/families..The present petitioner society in overseeing the functioning of Government Higher Secondary School, Padigaon on the aforesaid terms, and authorized its member(legal) to prefer this writ petition on their behalf. The Government Higher Secondary School, Padigaon 3 (Center Code 351137) has about 39 Students enrolled in Class X and about 27 Students enrolled in Class XII. The Government Higher Secondary School Padigaon is presently functioning as Swami Atmanand Utkrisht Hindi Medium School, and it was established in the year 1998. In the present school, students belonging to marginalized and lower income groups study and girl students from Villages Padigaon, Newapali, Sutupali, Surajgarh, Kalmi, Machida and Turanga receive their education. The number of girl students and specially abled students is on the higher side in the said institution. Fom its inception, the aforesaid school has been the examination center of CGBSE Examinations for Class X and Class XII, for its ease of convenience and infrastructure facilities available to the students. The Respondent Board issued admit cards and examination centre details for the forthcoming Board Examinations scheduled to be held in the month of February 2026, starting from February 20, 2026 for Class XII and February 2021 for Class X. To the utmost shock and surprise of the students, without any prior notice, the respondents have abruptly changed the examination centres of the students, of Government Higher Secondary School, Padigaon, to far-off school, i.e. Swami Atmanand Govt. Utkrisht English Medium School, Pussore Raigarh for the upcoming Board Examinations. For the previous years, the examination center of the students was Government Higher Secondary School Padigaon only. This fact is evident from the copy of admit card issued in the year 2025. The newly allotted examination centre of the students, situated at Swami Atmanand Govt. Utkrisht English Medium School, Pussore Raigarh, which is approximately 10 kilometers away from the locality/school. The change has been made at the last moment without any public notice, individual intimation, or opportunity for representation, causing extreme hardship to 4 students and their families. Many affected students belong to rural and economically weaker backgrounds, and are facing serious difficulties relating to: lack of availability of public transportation facilities in the said area ; additional financial burden ; mental stress and anxiety immediately before Board examinations ; safety concerns especially for girl and handicapped students. The Board examinations are crucial for the academic future of the students, and such arbitrary action is directly affecting their performance and mental well-being. The petitioner society, Sarpanch of Village Padigaon and other students made oral/written representations to the respondent authorities, but no effective action has been taken till date. To the best of the knowledge of the petitioner, examination question papers would be delivered to the school authorities on 10- 02-2026 for safe-keeping. Hence this Petition. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits at the outset submits that Relief Nos.10.1 and 10.2 have become redundant on account of the fact that examinations of Class X and XII have already been concluded. Thus, he would confine his prayer and submissions to Relief No.10.3 only. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the students in this Petition come from marginalized and lower income groups who are studying in Government Higher Secondary School, Padigaon District Raigarh C.G. For the purposes of Board Examinations, examination centre of the students has been set to a far off examination centre i.e. Swami Atmanand Government Utkrisht English Medium School, Pussore Raigarh. The distance between the examination centre and their village is about 10 kilometers. He submits that since the students are not from well-off families and they have to manage very much to get education in rural village. It would be unfair to send them to a examination centre which is 5 about 10 kilometers away from their village. Hence, he prays for a direction to the respondent authorities that so far as future examinations are concerned, the examination centres should be decided bearing in mind the fair, transparent and student friendly approach. 5. Considering the submission made by counsel for the petitioner and the facts and circumstances of the case, so far as Relief No.10.3 is concerned, the District Education Officer concerned and authorities thereof are directed to consider the case of the petitioner in light of Relief No.10.3 so that in future, the students who are hailing from rural background do not face inconvenience in appearing in their Board examination. 6. With the aforesaid observation/direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. Sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Avinash