Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 17: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed the Government to consider the mass promotion of students’ upto 7th standard favorably so as to save their time lost to floods.
While hearing senior counsel Riyaz Ahmad Jan on the issue of mass promotion upto 7th standard, the Division Bench comprising Justice MH Attar and Justice D S Thakur, directed the Government to convey the decision of the authority and consider submission made by advocate Jan in this regard favorably.
“Mr. Chashoo (AAG) sought time to convey the decision of the competent authority in this behalf. Respondent authorities may consider the submissions made at bar favorably”, directed the bench.
Advocate Jan submitted before the court that there will be no difficulty for the authorities to promote the students upto 7th standards on the basis of their performances in the tests conducted during the academic year. He submitted that in terms of statute, there will be no difficulty to the Education Institutions to promote the students on the basis of their performances in the tests conducted during the academic year and ‘this exercise will save academic career of the students’ he further submitted.
In the meanwhile, Private Schools who were served notices with regard to waiving of tuition fee and bus fare for the month of September and October appeared before the court through their respective counsels and sought weeks time to file response with regard to the issue. Court previously had issued notices to 59 schools for appearing before the court.
“In pursuance to the notice issued, some private institutions appeared through their counsels. At request, week’s time is granted for filing their issue” the bench said.
Court also directed Principal Delhi Public School Athwajan to file an undertaking before the Registrar Judicial stating therein that he will not charge tuition fee and bus fare for these two month from the students.
“Principal Delhi Public School, Athwajan, to file an undertaking during the course of week before the Registrar Judicial of this court stating therein that the Court order dated October 30 will be complied with”, directed the bench.
The direction was issued to the principal after it was brought to the notice of the court that despite orders of the court directing him not to charge tuition fee and bus fee for these two months, the parents are asked to pay tuition fee and bus fee for these months and even SMS are being forwarded to the students by the authorities in this regard. Counsel appearing for DP School advocate Jehangir Iqbal Ganie submitted that court orders are being complied with and no such demand has been made.
Another school namely Srinagar British School through its counsel voluntarily stated that the school will not charge tuition fee and bus fare for these two months and in case fee has been taken that will be adjusted.
Meanwhile, Advocate G A Lone amicus to the PIL submitted that he will give further information to the Registry of this court about other private Schools whom notices have not been issued.
“Such information be given during the course of the week, so as to enable the Registry to issue notices to those institutions”, asked the bench to amicus.
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