Sharad Kumar Pandey vs the State of U.P. and 4 Others

This petition, purportedly in public interest, has been filed by the petitioner seeking quashing of para 8 of the Government Order dated 20.06.2025 ('GO') and directing respondent No. 2 for purchasing of the books, which are the subject of creation of the personality and culture of the students studying from 1 to 5 for Prathmik Vidyalaya and for Junior Vidyalaya 6 to 8.

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Submissions have been made that the Principal Secretary, Government of U.P., by his communication dated 17.03.2025 addressed to Director, Panchayati Raj, U.P. and all the District Collectors of U.P. in relation to setting up of Digital Library (बाल एवं िकशोर पुस्तकालय/Child and Adolescent Library), issued directions for constitution of the Committee at Directorate Level, Project Management Unit, District Level Committee, Activities to be undertaken for setting up of the libraries, based on which, on 20.06.2025, the Director, Panchayati Raj, U.P. issued Guidelines/directions to all the District Collectors and Chief Development Officers, inter alia , for taking steps for setting up of Digital Libraries indicating the specifications of the IT instruments like Desktop, UPS, Multi Function Printer, LED TV and HD Web Camera, Furniture and also gave directions for selection of books.

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Submissions have been made that the direction pertaining to the selection of books, wherein 50% books were directed to be selected, inter alia , provides that the same may be purchased for students, who were

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preparing for competition, which stipulation made is wholly inappropriate inasmuch as the Libraries are being set up for students for Class-1 to 8 and for them, the purchase of books for competitions is wholly useless as at that age, they would not be preparing for any competition.

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It is claimed that at the village level, only primary and junior schools are available and as such, in the Scheme, only those books should be included which are taught by the school teachers for the students of the said classes with regard to their development of personality and culture and for knowledge of the subjects concerned, which are prescribed by the U.P. Government through Director, Panchayati Raj.

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We have considered the submissions made in the petition and submissions made by counsel for the petitioner, which are similar to the allegations made in the petition.

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The petitioner is a practising Advocate and has claimed that as he has interest in the cause of the villagers, as such he was challenging the GO.

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Besides the fact that the cause sought to be projected by the petitioner, based on the credentials indicated is too far fetched, the claim made also, apparently, has no basis. The relevant provision of the GO, inter alia , provides as under:

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"शेष धनरािश रू० 90,000/- से शासकीय/अन्य प्रकाशकों की पुस्तकें, िजसमें स्थानीय भाषाओं के सािहत्यकारों, स्थानीय प्रकाशन, स्थानीय स्वतंत्रता सेनािनयों, राष्ट्रनायकों एवं शहीदों की जीवनी, स्थानीय/क्षेत्रीय लेखकों, प्रितिष्ठत िवद्वानों की पुस्तकें, किवयों की पुस्तकें िजनमें स्थानीय इितहास, संस्कृित सािहत्य से सम्बिन्धत हो, को भी शािमल िकया जाएगा। उक्त के साथ ही प्रितयोिगता की तैयारी कर रहे छात्रों के आवश्यकतानुसार तथा मिहलाओं एवं बाल सािहत्य से सम्बिन्थत ज्ञानवधर्क पुस्तकों को भी शािमल िकया जाएगा तथा शासकीय प्रकाशकों के साथ-साथ अन्य प्रकाशकों की पुस्तकें जनपद स्तरीय सिमित पुस्तकों का चयन करते हुए िवत्तीय िनयमों का पालन करते हुए क्रय करेंगी।"

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Admittedly, the Digital Libraries are being established as Child and Adolescent Libraries. The adolescent age group has been defined by the World Health Organization as individuals between the ages of 10 and 19. The Guidelines/Scheme nowhere indicates that the Libraries are being set

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up for students of Classes 1 to 8, which claim appears to be the brainchild of the petitioner only.

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Once the Libraries are meant for adolescent individuals, the provision for purchase of books for preparation for competitions, cannot be faulted as at the age of 19 years, the students would definitely need to prepare for competitions.

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In view of the above fact situation, the petition has no substance, the same is, therefore, dismissed.

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(Kshitij Shailendra,J.) (Arun Bhansali,CJ.)

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January 7, 2026

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Mukesh Pal

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Digitally signed by :- MUKESH PAL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

Sharad Kumar Pandey v. the State of U.P. and 4 Others

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Sharad Kumar Pandey v. the State of U.P. and 4 Others

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