Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has expressed grave concern over the precarious condition of a 143-year-old British-era structure on Mission Road at Buxi Bazaar in Odisha’s Cuttack city, which has been serving as the premises for St Xavier’s High School since late January 2026.
A division bench, comprising Justices K R Mohapatra and V Narasingh, flagged the issue while reviewing a report submitted by the Cuttack administration on April 16 in compliance with the court’s earlier directives to inspect safety conditions at all private and government schools in the city amid broader concerns over unsafe buildings. “The report reveals a shocking state of affairs,” the bench observed, noting that 48 schools had been inspected so far. It specifically highlighted St Xavier’s High School, describing it as operating in an “almost dilapidated building” without any accompanying structural stability report.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Kamaljit Dash assured the court that authorities would take necessary steps to ensure safety of students, teachers, and non-teaching staff. “If required, alternative arrangements will be made in consultation with the school management,” he added.
The bench has sought an action-taken report by May 4, with the next hearing scheduled for May 7.
According to official records, the building, a classic example of Indo-European architecture, was constructed in 1883 by civil surgeon Dr W D Stewart as his residence. It was donated to the Baptist Mission in 1887 for educational use and later became known as Christ Collegiate School in 1950. It forms part of the historical legacy of Stewart School, Cuttack, founded in 1882 by Dr Stewart, which evolved from an orphanage and Protestant European School into a prominent institution.
In a February 20, 2016, letter, the Public Works Department’s Executive Engineer (Roads & Buildings, Cuttack Division) warned that the structure was in a dangerously dilapidated condition and could collapse at any time, urging that no students or staff be allowed inside. The school was shifted to a nearby facility in 2019, but after some repairs, St Xavier’s High School reopened in the building on January 23, 2026.
In 2019, lawyer Shivsankar Mohanty filed a PIL seeking to declare the structure a heritage building under the Orissa Municipal Corporation Act, 2003, citing its architectural and historical value. The court had then directed the civic body to act on the plea.
