Bombay HC Converts Plea Over Tribal Students’ Hunger Strike Into PIL Over Ashram School Conditions

Mumbai, August 31, 2026: The Bombay High Court on Monday transformed a plea raised by tribal students on hunger strike due to poor conditions in ashram schools throughout Maharashtra into a public interest litigation (PIL). The decision came after Advocate General Milind Sathe presented the minutes from a meeting involving the state government and the students taking part in the protest.

The court indicated to the petitioner that it is contemplating to convert the case into a PIL due to the broad concerns regarding the status of tribal ashram schools and hostels. Safety of the students was a major concern last week, when the court ordered the Maharashtra government to ensure the immediate medical attention of students involved in the hunger strike.

"No student should lose his or her life," the bench declared, directing that doctors should be on standby at all times and the students should be moved to hospitals when required. The court had also stated that food should be provided to the fasting students if a doctor recommends it. The case came to the court after the health of a protesting student in Pune was reported to have worsened.

The students have been protesting about alleged shortcomings in the infrastructure, food, safety and educational standards at tribal ashram schools and hostels. The demonstration followed several unfortunate incidents involving tribal students, including deaths linked to snakebites at an ashram school in Gadchiroli district.