High Court directs St Edwards School to file affidavit or face temporary closure

Shimla: Taking serious note of frequent traffic jams near schools on circular road in Shimla, the High Court has directed the school managements to take steps for implementing the recommendations made by the Technical Committee constituted by the Municipal Corporation.

During the course of hearing, in the bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sandeep Sharma, it was informed to the court that the Technical Committee had given 12 suggestions to the management of St Edward’s School including shifting place of boarding/deboarding from the Main Circular Road to a place within the St Edward’s School premises.

The bench has directed the School to comply with the suggestions and failing which, the Court will be constrained to take a harsh view in the matter, bench further ruled.

The court has also ordered the Principal and the Managing Committee of St. Edwards School to file affidavits, within a week to abide with the recommendations of the Committee. In the event of non-compliance, court directed to list the case after ten days to consider as to whether the School should be permitted to make admissions in the ensuing Academic Session or it should be ordered to be temporarily closed till adequate parking space is created.

The Technical Committee has also given suggestions for creation of parking space and better management of traffic at the time when School children are boarding or deboarding as well as for the safety of the School children for various other Schools.

The Technical Committee, headed by MD Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited inspected the School premises of St. Edwards School, Jesus and Mary, Auckland House Schools, Chapslee School and Loreto Convent School Tara Hall. Thereafter committee convened a meeting with the representatives of all the Schools on 2nd March, 2019. However, St. Edwards School representative didn’t participate in the meeting, even though location near the said School is most vulnerable for traffic chaos.

The Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shimla, has filed a status report dated 20th March, 2019, alongwith an interim report, suggesting ways and means to de-congest the parking problem near the Schools located on the Circular Road.