Nashik, Maharashtra — Supreme Court Judge Justice Prasanna B. Varale on Monday criticised the scale of allocations for the upcoming Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela, saying that a tiny fraction of the funds could have prevented the closure of scores of Marathi-medium schools across Maharashtra.
Judge's remarks at Dhule school event
Justice Varale made the comments while attending a function in Dhule district to inaugurate "smart classes" at a high school he had attended for several years, according to media reports. Citing the Kumbh allocations, the judge said that 0.1 per cent of the expenditure earmarked for the mela — approximately ₹32 crore — could have saved between 100 and 125 Marathi-medium schools from shutting down.
The judge's observations were carried by national media outlets, which reported him as saying he had "expressed what I truly feel in my heart," and stressing that "children are the future of the country" and that basic facilities for education and healthcare must be guaranteed as fundamental rights.
Context: Kumbh allocations and education funding
Justice Varale drew attention to the scale of public spending for the Kumbh mela. Reports cited figures suggesting the government has allocated between ₹32,000 crore and ₹34,000 crore for the overall event, with an additional ₹11,000 crore mentioned for corridor projects associated with the mela.
He also highlighted concerns about the state's declining share of education in public budgets. Media coverage of his remarks noted that the education allocation has failed to reach the often-cited 13 per cent of the budget target for several years, even as the student population has grown — an issue that has contributed to the deterioration and closure of some Marathi-medium and rural schools.
| Item | Figure (reported) |
|---|---|
| Estimated Kumbh allocation | ₹32,000–34,000 crore |
| Corridor projects | ₹11,000 crore |
| 0.1% of Kumbh allocation (approx.) | ₹32 crore |
| Schools Justice Varale said could be saved | 100–125 Marathi-medium schools |
Local implications and policy questions
The judge's comments raise several issues for Nashik and the wider region. The Simhastha Kumbh is a major religious and administrative event for Nashik, involving large-scale infrastructure, security, sanitation and transport expenditure. At the same time, local and state authorities must balance festival-related spending with ongoing investments in primary education and rural infrastructure.
Critics and education advocates frequently point to falling real allocations for public schooling, deteriorating facilities in rural Zilla Parishad and municipal schools, and the consolidation or closure of Marathi-medium institutions when parent numbers decline or upkeep becomes unaffordable.
- Justice Varale linked a small portion of Kumbh funds (₹32 crore) to potentially saving dozens of Marathi-medium schools.
- Reports quoted the judge noting that education spending has not reached the 13% benchmark for several years despite rising student numbers.
- The remarks were made at a smart-class inauguration in Dhule, where Justice Varale completed part of his schooling.
"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," the judge was reported as saying.
For Nashik civic planners and Maharashtra policymakers, the judge's remarks underline a familiar debate: how to weigh one-off, high-visibility investments for events against steady, long-term provisioning for basic services such as primary education. The comments are also likely to renew scrutiny of allocations for the Simhastha and the state education department's budgetary priorities.
Justice Varale's observations — reported by national media — add legal and moral weight to conversations in Nashik and elsewhere in the state about protecting regional-language schools and ensuring adequate facilities in rural and municipal institutions. Any administrative response or budgetary adjustment will, however, depend on decisions taken at state government and departmental levels.
(Reporting from Nashik; remarks attributed to media reports of Justice Prasanna B. Varale's speech and interview.)
