Shut unrecognised schools in state: HC

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 19

Rapping Haryana for virtually offering old wine in a new bottle by repeating what has been said for the last one year on closure of unrecognised schools, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the authorities concerned to take appropriate decision on pulling down the shutters in case the institutes fail to secure recognition.

The order by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli came on a bunch of petitions against the state and other respondents by the Swasthya Shiksha Sahyog Sangthan and advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal.

Taking up the matter, the Bench asserted that the status report filed in court was highly unsatisfactory. “In fact, what is being stated before us for the last one year is again repeated with respect to unrecognised schools and no steps have been taken on the ground,” the Bench asserted.

In its detailed order, the Bench noted that it was an admitted fact that the current academic session was about to end and the state government was under an obligation to take a decision regarding final recognition to be granted to schools running on provisional recognition.

The Bench took note of Haryana Additional Advocate- General Deepak Balyan’s submission that an appropriate decision would be taken within two weeks. Before parting with the order, the Bench directed the respondents to take a decision on every pending application for recognition and to bring details on record by filing a status report.

“Appropriate decision for closing those schools whose application for recognition is rejected or which have not made any application and are not entitled to run the school shall also be taken and brought on record,” the Bench concluded.