Delhi govt to reply to PIL for rebuilding school demolished 40

The High Court today sought Delhi government's response to a PIL seeking reconstruction of the building of a minority school which has been functioning from tents since its demolition 40 years ago during Emergency.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued notices to the city government, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Delhi Waqf Board on the plea and asked them to respond by September 23, 2015.
The PIL filed by civil activist Firoz Bakht Ahmed, contended that the state of affairs at the Qaumi school was "sad and pitiable" as it was functioning from the grounds of the Eidgah at Quresh Nagar in old Delhi after its building was demolished on June 30, 1976, during Emergency.

The plea alleged that despite promises of land and building nothing has been done and the school continues to function in a "tattered, tented and tinned structure, without a building" since 1976.
The PIL, filed through advocate Atyab Siddiqui, contended that children from the "down-trodden and backward class have to suffer due to threats of closure, makeshift classrooms, leaking roofs and no proper facilities.
"A hostile and inclement environment can hardly be conducive for learning. With competition at the school leaving board examinations reaching stupendous proportions, children from such schools are placed at a huge disadvantage from the very inception of their schooling life...." it said.

It said that the Eidgah Committee has been pressurising the school authorities to vacate their land so the area could be utilized for religious purposes.
"Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, it was obligatory on the state to provide infrastructure including a school building, and that the civic authorities have failed to discharge the statutory onus," the plea said.
"Promises were made that the school will be rebuilt within six months but nothing has been done," it said.