Fateh School Udaipur Acquired for Panchayati Raj Elections: 2,500 Students Relocated to 2 Alternate Schools Until Nov 20

Udaipur: In a major administrative development ahead of the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections in Rajasthan, the Udaipur district election authorities have requisitioned the campus of PM Shri Government Fateh Higher Secondary School. Consequently, approximately 2,500 enrolled students will face daily commuting disruptions and academic adjustments for over a month as their classes are temporarily relocated to two alternate government schools situated nearly 2 kilometres away until November 20, 2026.

The landmark educational campus in Udaipur has been transformed into the nerve centre for district-wide election logistics. While democratic exercises represent a vital constitutional mandate, the abrupt mid-academic shifting of 2,500 students right before their half-yearly examinations has drawn sharp criticism from teacher associations, parents, and civic educators across the City of Lakes.

Two Shifts Across Two Separate Campuses: Revised Academic Schedule

According to Fateh School Principal Gajendra Aawot, the school’s complete teaching and administrative staff will report to two separate school buildings to ensure classroom continuity. Because Fateh School conventionally operates in two shifts, the district administration and education department have chalked out a divided timetable across two alternate host premises:

Under this arrangement, teachers from Fateh School will commute between the venues to deliver curriculum lectures, oversee laboratory practicals where feasible, and maintain mandatory attendance records.

Fateh School Converted into Central District Election Hub

The district election machinery has commenced extensive setup work inside the vast Fateh School campus. Owing to its strategic central location near Surajpole and its secure, sprawling boundary grounds, the school serves several mission-critical functions for the Panchayati Raj voting cycle:

• Central Control Room: A 24/7 district monitoring cell has been activated to coordinate real-time communications, legal compliances, and grievance redressals across all Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishad wards.
• Polling Party Dispatch Station: Hundreds of Returning Officers (ROs), polling supervisors, and security personnel will assemble here to receive polling materials, EVMs/ballot boxes, and official deployment orders before moving to rural polling stations.
• Strong Room & Counting Venue: Post-voting, all polled ballot boxes and secure election paperwork will be transported back to Fateh School’s barricaded halls for secure custody, data tabulation, and official vote counting.

Academic Concerns: Half-Yearly Exams Just 5 Days After Return

The relocation has triggered serious concerns regarding academic preparedness. Under the Rajasthan Department of Education’s official Shivira Calendar (शिविरा पंचांग), the state-wide half-yearly examinations are scheduled to take place between November 25 and December 7, 2026.

This timeline implies that students will only return to their regular Fateh School classrooms on November 21—leaving barely five working days before major examinations begin. Teachers have expressed apprehension that shifting between unfamiliar classroom spaces, disruption of science laboratory routines, and split timings will adversely affect students’ focus and exam performance.

Teachers’ Association Raises Questions Over Administrative Planning

The decision has drawn vocal criticism from teachers’ unions and educational representatives, who questioned why educational campuses were chosen over vacant civic and administrative infrastructure.

“Conducting elections in a democratic framework is indeed a constitutional necessity, but should that necessitate disrupting the education of school children mid-session? Displacing 2,500 students to distant schools not only disrupts their daily academic momentum right before half-yearly exams, but also imposes a substantial logistical and financial travel burden on parents, many of whom belong to economically weaker sections. Systems must be engineered where the festival of democracy is celebrated without jeopardizing children’s educational futures.”

— Sher Singh Chauhan, State President, Panchayati Raj and Secondary Teachers Association (पंचायती राज व माध्यमिक शिक्षक संघ)

Community advocates and parent bodies also pointed out that municipal premises such as the Udaipur Municipal Corporation Town Hall, community convention centres, and non-educational public auditoriums could have served as viable alternatives without disturbing student schooling.

Legal Requisition Powers vs Civic Balance

Under the statutory provisions of the Representation of the People Act and Rajasthan Panchayati Raj election guidelines, district magistrate and collector offices possess the legal authority to requisition government-owned buildings, vehicles, and personnel for election administration. While Fateh School’s high security, wide entrances, and central positioning make it operationally convenient for election authorities, local civil society has repeatedly urged the state government to develop a dedicated, non-academic administrative convention centre in Udaipur to host future election strong rooms and counting centres permanently.

Quick Facts: Fateh School Relocation at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Why has Fateh School Udaipur been acquired by the administration?
Fateh School has been requisitioned by the District Election Commission to serve as the central control room, polling party dispatch hub, and vote tabulation centre for the 2026 Panchayati Raj elections in Udaipur district.

Q2: How many students are affected by this decision?
Around 2,500 students studying across classes 9 through 12 in Arts, Commerce, Science, and Agriculture streams are affected by the temporary campus shift.

Q3: Where will classes be held during the election period?
Classes are bifurcated into two venues: Mahatma Gandhi Government School at Police Line (Morning shift: 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM for Classes 11 & 12 Arts/Commerce) and Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Tekri (Afternoon shift: 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM for Classes 9 & 10, plus Classes 11 & 12 Science/Agriculture).

Q4: When will students return to Fateh School campus?
Students are scheduled to return to the Fateh School campus on November 21, 2026, after the election counting and clearance process concludes.

Q5: When are the half-yearly examinations scheduled?
According to the Rajasthan Education Department’s Shivira Calendar, half-yearly examinations are scheduled from November 25 to December 7, 2026, just five days after students return to their original school.