HC issues notice to school in Bodakdev while civic body officials seal building of school in Hathijan
Authorities of two prominent city schools are likely to face the heat over separate cases of encroachment and illegal construction on government land. While a Bodakdev-based school was issued a notice by the high court based on a PIL claiming illegal occupancy of an adjacent public playground, AUDA sealed the administrative building of a Hirapur-based school on Wednesday.
PIL alleges encroachment by AIS
Gujarat High Court on Wednesday addressed a PIL about alleged encroachment of a public garden by Ahmedabad International School (AIS), Bodakdev. Petitioners Ajay Trivedi and Nilesh Mistry alleged the school has encroached upon land meant to be a public park and garden and is using it as a parking lot. After primary hearing of the case, a bench comprising Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice VM Pancholi issued notices to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) and AIS.
Nilesh Mistry, a local resident and one of the petitioners claimed, “AUDA had given the plot adjacent to the school to the authorities for Rs 1.50 lakh in 2003; it was to be used as a playground for the school children. However, the school is using the plot to park vehicles and local residents are not being allowed to use it. Authorities had issued a notice to them for breaching the condition of allotment.“ School authorities maintained allegations raised by the petitioners were misconceived. “We allow people to play in the plot even during school hours though the AUDA had allowed us to use it exclusively for school playground activities. We use it for parking only for 25 minutes in the morning and at noon,“ said Minesh Shah, a trustee of AIS.
AUDA seals DPS East building
Officials from AUDA sealed the administrative building of Delhi Public School East (DPS East) on Wednesday over alleged illegal construction on block numbers 45 to 48 and 67 to 68 of the Hirapur Draft Town Planning Scheme. AUDA Chairman Bhupendra Patel said: “The school was sent several notices but it failed to provide necessary documents. Strict action will be taken if the school fails to produce the documents after this. There are chances of the school being penalized.“
Mirror tried to contact DPS East Officer of Special Duty (OSD) Unmesh Dixit but he refused to speak on the issue. Pro-vice chairperson Manjula Pooja Shroff and management member Hiten Vasant refused to comment.
Source – Ahmedabad Mirror – 9th February 2017
