Authorities are mulling to explore possibilities for relocating one of the oldest schools of Srinagar, Tyndale Biscoe Higher Secondary School at Lal Chowk to city outskirts.
The move comes after Lal Chowk traders demanded de-congestion of Lal Chowk.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr. Asgar Samoon recently visited Lal Chowk wherein the shopkeepers complained of the congestion in the business hub and urged him to look for possibilities to de-congest the city centre.
Some of the shopkeepers complained that the location of Tyndale Biscoe Higher Secondary School was an obstacle in decongesting the city. The institution has a huge fleet of school buses and other vehicles which ferry students from various areas to the schools.
Officials said the Divisional Commissioner later passed directions to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar to take up the matter with the school administration and look for the possibilities of shifting the school to city peripheries.
“Following the demand from the traders, the administration is likely to provide some land to the school in Bemina area. But there is no development in the process as the administration is yet to take up the matter with school authorities,” officials said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr Asgar Samoon said the matter is in consideration with the administration as the relocation of the school was demanded by Lal Chowk traders.
“We will see if there is any possibility in this move and go ahead with it. However, we are yet to take up the matter with school authorities. Let us see if the ice breaks,” Samoon said.
He said the matter was discussed with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar “But there is no development on the issue on official level.” “Right now, the matter is confined to demand level,” he said.
Tyndale Biscoe School was established in 1880 and is located in the heart of Srinagar city. The school was established on the government land provided to them on lease by the then administration under some conditions and the school authorities signed an affidavit to fulfill the conditions set by the administration.
Being under the category of aided schools and established on government land provided to them on lease, the school authorities as per the affidavit signed before the administration is supposed to give 10 percent free admissions to the poor students.
“And later the government issued an order in light of Supreme Court Judgment that aided private schools should keep 25 percent reservations for students belonging to weaker section,” officials said.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said that it was suggestion from Lal Chowk traders. “But the administration has not taken any initiative on it. We didn’t convene any meeting with the school as well. The school was doing a great job and has contributed a lot to the society as well,” the DC said.
Asked whether the school possesses a renewed lease agreement and paid rent towards the government, the DC said “the administration needs to check the school record.” “We will ask them to submit the school records besides the list of poor students admitted free of cost in the school,” the DC added.
