CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered the shifting of children studying in Sri Saravana Vidyalaya Nursery and Primary school at Puzhal to some other schools, as the building lacked all basic amenities and was in a dilapidated condition. Justice S Vaidyanathan gave a directive to this effect when a writ petition from S Sasikumar of Chinna Kondugaiyur came up again on Wednesday.
As directed last week, A Karuppasamy, Director of Elementary School Education, appeared before the judge. The petition prayed for a directive to officials concerned to inspect the school and the scrutiny certificates submitted by the management for approval.
According to petitioner, the land on which the school is situated on Jeeva Main Street belonged to his father. As the school lacked all the basic amenities and considering the safety of the children, his father, before his death, cancelled the lease deed and asked the management to vacate the premises. A legal notice was also issued in March 2014. However, the management did not oblige and managed to get approval over the years, including for 2018-19. Hence, the present petition to inspect the school and take appropriate action.
The judge said the school should also be closed down as early as possible. He rejected a plea from the government advocate to grant one academic year’s time. The judge told him to accommodate the children in nearby schools. The judge directed the authorities to transfer officials who had granted permission to the school to continue, to other non-sensitive posts.
The judge referring to the condition of the toilets said that they did not have a roof. “There is every possibility of some miscreants living in the nearby high-rise buildings taking photographs.”