TEAM HERALD
VALPOI: Ongoing litigation over land ownership issues pertaining to the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) at Valpoi has led to yet another hurdle for the school.
Some parents have now complained the science stream for Std 11 and 12 cannot function in the school, even though permission has been sanctioned to start the science stream, due to the land dispute.
Speaking to Herald, former school PTA member B D Mote informed that the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (Pune) and the HRD ministry (New Delhi) had granted permission to the Valpoi JNV to start science stream about five years ago.
“But construction work to extend the building for the extra class rooms cannot be taken up due to the land dispute,” said Mote.
“Parents who wish to keep their children in the same school after SSC have no option other than admitting children in the arts stream. However, some parents can get their children admitted in science stream of Canacona JNV, provided they get adequate in the SSC exam,’ he added.
When contacted, another petitioner, social activist and noted lawyer Ganpat Gaonkar informed Herald that the principal of JNV and Union of India had filed an appeal before the high court, challenging the judgment and decree passed by District Court in Mapusa over a civil suit.
“The State government also filed another appeal challenging the same judgment that was passed in favour of the landowner. Both appeals are still pending before the high court. Some urgent maintenance work was undertaken recently, but this is insufficient for the safety of students,” said Goankar.
“We have filed a PIL in the high court as we are concerned about the safety and future of the 400-odd students,” he added.
When contacted, an official of JNV Valpoi who spoke on condition of anonymity said the JNV was started in 1987, with classes functioning in State government building opposite the forest training school at Valpoi.
“In 1997, the school was shifted to the new building in Ward 7 of Valpoi. However, the landlady claimed the ownership of the land occupied by the school and filed a suit in court,” the official said.
