‘0.1% of Nashik Kumbh funds could have helped save 100-125 Marathi schools’: Justice Varale

Supreme Court judge Justice Prasanna B Varale has raised serious concerns over the declining education budget and the closure of Marathi-medium schools in Maharashtra, questioning whether a small fraction of the money allocated for the Nashik Kumbh could have helped prevent the closures. Speaking at the inauguration of smart classes at a high school in Maharashtra’s Dhule district, Justice Varale said that even 0.1 per cent of the expenditure earmarked for the Nashik Kumbh could have helped save 100 to 125 Marathi-medium schools from shutting down.

The government, he pointed out, has allocated between Rs 32,000 crore and Rs 34,000 crore for the Kumbh Mela, while Rs 11,000 crore has been allocated for corridor projects. He said that spending just 0.1 per cent of the Kumbh allocation, approximately Rs 32 crore, could have helped save 100 to 125 Marathi-medium schools across Maharashtra that have already closed. Justice Varale also spoke from personal experience, recalling that he completed his schooling up to Class 10 in municipal and Zilla Parishad Marathi-medium schools. He said studying in a regional-language school did not limit his career and instead helped broaden his perspective.

"I have expressed what I truly feel in my heart," Justice Varale was later quoted as saying to NDTV. "Children are the future of the country... Essential facilities must be provided for children in schools. Primary education and healthcare are fundamental rights of every citizen," he added in an exclusive interview.

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Earlier, Justice Varale had expressed concern over the state of education funding, noting that despite an increasing student population, the education budget has continued to shrink instead of rising. He pointed out that the allocation has failed to reach even the 13 per cent mark for several years. He also highlighted the poor condition of schools in rural areas, referring to a tragic incident involving a school linked to a religious institution. Three female students who were reportedly forced to sleep on the floor because of inadequate facilities died after being bitten by snakes.

Justice Varale contrasted such incidents with the substantial funds being allocated to large-scale events and infrastructure projects. He questioned whether a portion of such spending could instead be directed towards providing basic facilities and protecting schools that serve children, particularly in rural and Marathi-speaking communities. His remarks have drawn attention to the broader debate over education funding, the future of Marathi-medium schools and the priorities behind large public expenditures in Maharashtra.