4 days ago
Bombay High Court Orders Care for Fasting Tribal Students
Tribal students in Maharashtra have been protesting about problems at their schools and hostels.
Some students have stopped eating for 15 days.
One protesting student in Pune became unwell.
The Bombay High Court said that no student should die because of the protest.
It ordered the government to keep doctors available to help the students.
Students must be watched medically and taken to a hospital when needed.
Doctors may also advise students to eat food during the fast.
Lawyers told the court about earlier food-poisoning cases and snakebite incidents.
The government said it had started taking action and will give the court details of its meeting with student representatives.
The Bombay High Court directed Maharashtra to protect tribal students fasting over conditions at ashram schools and hostels.
The court ordered round-the-clock medical availability, observation, hospitalisation when necessary and food on doctors’ advice.
The students had been on hunger strike for 15 days, with protests reported in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
Petitioners cited alleged deficiencies in infrastructure, food, safety and education, along with food-poisoning and snakebite incidents.
Reports refer to three snakebite deaths in Gadchiroli, while the detailed account says two girls died, one was critically ill and three others were hospitalised.
- Who
- The Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra government, protesting tribal students and their representatives.
- What
- The court ordered Maharashtra to provide medical monitoring, hospitalisation when required and food under medical guidance for students on hunger strike.
- Where
- The proceedings concerned protests in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra; cited incidents occurred in Gadchiroli, Amravati and Shahapur in Thane district.
- When
- The hearing took place on Saturday, August 29, 2026; the matter was scheduled for further hearing on Monday.
- Why
- The students are seeking improvements in infrastructure, food, safety and educational facilities at tribal ashram schools and hostels.
Students and Petitioners
Maharashtra Government
Conditions at tribal schools
Students and Petitioners
Students and petitioners allege serious deficiencies in infrastructure, food, safety and educational facilities at ashram schools and hostels and seek urgent improvements.
Maharashtra Government
The government said it had taken swift and proactive measures and would extend effective action to affected locations.
Evidence of safety risks
Students and Petitioners
The petitioners cited food-poisoning cases, a student death in Amravati, illnesses in Shahapur and snakebite incidents in Gadchiroli to highlight risks faced by students.
Maharashtra Government
The State said it had begun addressing the concerns, while the court required immediate safeguards for the fasting students.
Immediate handling of the fast
Students and Petitioners
The students continued their hunger strike despite concerns about worsening health, including the deterioration of one student in Pune.
Maharashtra Government
The government must provide medical care, hospitalisation when required and food whenever doctors advise it, regardless of the ongoing fast.
Key facts
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Bench
- Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam A Ankhad
- Hunger strike
- The students had been fasting for 15 days
- Immediate orders
- Doctors must remain available, students must receive medical observation and hospitalisation when necessary, and food may be given on medical advice
- Health concern
- The court was informed that a protesting student in Pune had deteriorated
- Incidents cited
- Petitioners referred to food poisoning at tribal ashram schools, a student death in Amravati, illnesses in Shahapur and snakebite incidents in Gadchiroli
- Government response
- Advocate General Milind Sathe said the government had taken swift action and held a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Tribal Development Minister and student representatives
- Gadchiroli account
- One report describes three snakebite deaths, while the detailed account says two girls died, one was critically ill and three others were hospitalised
Quotes
Bombay High Court bench
The bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad hearing the petition.
“Take care of the students who have commenced a hunger fast pursuant to the death of three students due to snakebite.”
freepressjournal.in
“We don't want the life of even a single student to be lost.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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