HC asks govt to explore rebuilding minority school demolished

The Delhi High Court today asked the AAP government and the authorities concerned to explore the possibility of allotting land for a minority school which has been functioning from tents since its demolition over 40 years ago during the Emergency.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar asked the Delhi chief secretary to co-ordinate and hold meetings with all the agencies including the Delhi Development Authority and the municipal body.
The court expressed concern after it was told that the minority school has been functioning from tents and sought to know the status and the outcome of the meeting on the next date of hearing, December 12.

The court's direction were issued during hearing of a PIL seeking reconstruction of the building of the minority school which has been functioning from tents since its demolition on June 30, 1976 during Emergency.
Earlier, on August 12, 2015, Additional Standing Counsel Sanjoy Ghose, appearing for the Delhi government, had said that they were keen to resolve the issue.
He had told the court that the government was exploring all possibilities to allot land for a minority school.

The PIL filed by civil activist Firoz Bakht Ahmed has 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.

The plea has alleged that despite promises of land and building, nothing was done and the school continued 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 in board examinations reaching stupendous proportions, children from such schools are placed at a huge disadvantage from the very inception of their schooling life."

The petition said it was obligatory on the state to provide infrastructure including a school building and the civic authorities have failed to discharge the statutory onus.