The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has given a relief to private schools operating from community and government lands, The Private Schools’ Association of Jammu and Kashmir said on Friday.
While deciding a batch of writ petitions, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice (acting) in his order observed that where the schools are being run on Kahcharie/ state Shamilat etc. land are concerned, the petitioners therein can either acquire the proprietary land or approach the respondent-authority (Principal Secretary to Government, Department of School Education, UT of J&K/J&K Board of School Education) with their plea as is made by them in their respective writ petitions for consideration which can also include the exchange of proprietary land in lieu of Kahcharie/State/Shamilat etc. land, as may be available under and in terms of the Land Revenue Act or any other applicable laws.
All such school owners have been asked to submit their applications within four weeks from today. “Principal Secretary to Government, shall decide the same either himself/itself or by constituting a committee, comprising of senior officers of the School Education Department/J&K Board of School Education, Revenue Department or any other departments as may be thought appropriate by him/it, and get such applications decided within four months,” the order further reads.
Till the grant of land rights all the petitioners will be permitted to run the school, the school body said.
According to the statement, private schools’ association of Jammu and Kashmir has welcomed the order. “The association said the order has come as a saviour to lakhs of poor students studying in such schools. It has prevented the ruining of career of these students and given them hope of bright future,” the statement said.
