ASHRAF KHAN
VALPOI
Schools are meant to provide a congenial atmosphere to students and staff, but one school has been criticized for its poor structure to such an extent that parents and students have sought the legal intervention of the high court.
Parents of students at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), a residential school in Valpoi, have filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) requesting the high court to direct various authorities concerned to undertake urgent repairs of the school building. The State government, human resources ministry (New Delhi) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (Noida) have been named in the PIL.
The Valpoi JNV presently has an enrolment of 392 students from Class 6 to Class 11 and they are managed by 40 staff members.
Speaking to Herald, aggrieved parents claimed the school building has not been maintained since the last 10 years, thereby endangering staff and students in the school.
“The main reason for the deplorable condition of the school building is that the land is under dispute in court since the last ten years. Funds cannot be sanctioned for maintenance unless the title of the land on which the building stands gets cleared in the ongoing court case,” said a school source.
When contacted, School PTA member Subodh Dessai told Herald that parents had repeatedly highlighted the deteriorating condition of the school building complex.
“Even agitations were conducted by parents and students several times in the last few months. But there have been little efforts, either by the central or state governments, to resolve the pending litigation,” said Dessai.
“Under pressure from parents, local PWD officials inspected the premises and agreed that the building needed urgent repair work. Unfortunately, the work is pending because the HRD ministry cannot sanction the funds unless the land on which the school building stands has a clear title. Hence, the work to repair roof leakages, floor repairs, plastering of walls, replacing the missing toilet doors and damaged electricity wiring have been pending for years.”
“As there is forest cover on both sides of the school complex, wild animals have entered the school complex at night for want of a compound wall and this has scared young children residing in the school complex. We urge authorities to urgently repair the building for the safety and future of our students. Else, the government can provide us alternate place or provide a school building at a suitable place till the litigation is resolved,” Dessai remarked.
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.
Some parents have now complained that due to the land dispute, the science stream for Std 11 and 12 cannot function, even though permission has been sanctioned to start the science stream.
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. A judgment was passed in her favour in 2004, but it has been challenged in the high court. Hence, it is difficult for the school to carry out major maintenance work,” the official said.
