Delhi HC issues notice to Delhi Govt on demolition of 95-yr-old school

New Delhi, May 2: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Delhi government and other Government officials on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), challenging the construction of a multi-level car parking facility by demolishing a primary school established in 1927 at Karol Bagh in the national capital. A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Navin Chawla issued notice to the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Government, Omaxe Group and Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) in relation to the decision of NDMC to sell school land and directed them to file the reply in the court. A PIL was filed in the High Court against the decision of North Delhi Municipality Corporation (NDMC) to sell the 4100 square yard of school land located at Bank Street Karol Bagh to Omaxe Group for Rs 181 crores. It was submitted on behalf of the petitioner that in 2019, the corporation stopped using the said building as a school by shifting the students to another school which is much smaller in size and does not have sufficient infrastructure such as a playground, open green area etc. The PIL said the school at Bank Street measures about 4100 sq meters while Shiv Nagar School where students were shifted is only about 1420 sq metres and is now overcrowded and after Covid-19, more students are being enrolled in the Government schools as the parents are unable to afford private schools. The petitioner submitted that the land of the school cannot be used for any other purpose except for running the school as the Government and Corporation are duty bound to provide free and compulsory education to children up to 14 years. It was submitted that the commission was having the statutory obligation to protect the rights of children residing in Delhi and if the schools are permitted to be sold by the corporation, then the burden of providing compulsory education would be shift on the Government. If building of the school was taken over by the Horticulture Department in 2019 since there are numerous 50 to 100 years old trees planted within the campus, which would be demolished by the construction company, noted the PIL. (UNI)