Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 30: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed six Srinagar based private schools to waive off the tuition fee and bus fare of the students for September and October when these schools were closed due to last month’s floods.
The Division Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed the authorities that school fee and bus fare to the students studying in Mallinson, Biscoe, New Era Public School, Presentation Convent, Burn Hall and Delhi Public School should not be charged for the months of September and October this year.
Counsels represent these schools except Dehli Public School made a statement before the bench that they will not charge any tuition fee and bus fare for these two months. Court also directed Principal Delhi Public School not to charge tuituon fee and bus fare for these two months.
The court also asked the amicus curie Advocate G A Lone to furnish the addresses of other private schools so that notice could also be issued them in this regard. “If the amount has been received in advance then the same be adjusted in future months”, added the bench.
Court on previous date of hearing had issued notices to these schools after amicus Lone had submitted that school fee and bus fare are being charged by the schools for the month of September and October.
Meanwhile, status report has been filed by Education Department through their counsel Additional Advocate General, Shabir Naik where in it has been stated that total number of schools in Valley are 11628 and out of which 1096 school buildings in Kashmir valley were affected by the recent floods and out of which 601 school buildings were partially damaged and 495 school building were totally damaged.
However, Naik stated before the court that the classes are being taken in make shift buildings in nearby schools, temporary sheds, tents and rented buildings. The amicus curie refuted the claims of Naik and he sought time to file of counter status report.
“Mr Lone learned amicus requests for some time to file counter to the status report, list for further consideration on November 12”, reads the court order.
“That the schools were re-opened as per the instructions of the concerned Deputy Commissioners in consultation with the Chief Education Officer and Chief Medical Officers. The certificates from R&B Department and Engineering wing of School Education Department have been obtained by the Concerned CEOs”, reads the report.
With regard to the direction of placing the decision copy of postponement of examination the report says: “The purpose of postponement of examination in the month of March 2015 has been taken in view of the bad weather conditions and the damages caused to the infrastructure of schools building in the State and loss of text books and as such Government on 16.10.14 issued an order for conducting examination in the month of March 2015.”
Bench was hearing a PIL where in serious note was taken by the court with regard to opening of flood hit schools without issuing safety certificate by the concerned authorities.
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