No action against Mumbai school till July 18

Bombay high court on Thursday directed director of education not to take any action against St Mary’s school in Byculla until July 18, the date of hearing the petition filed by the school challenging the de-recognition order passed by the deputy director of education in May.

The court ordered that whatever the outcome of the appeal filed by the school against the de-recognition order; it shouldn’t be enforced until the court decides the school’s petition. The bench noted that the school should, by July 14, attach the order passed by the director education to the petition which is likely to be delivered on Friday.

On May 24 the school was de-recognised by the education department. Their petition alleged that in 2007-08 the school did a review and one student, son of one Nana Kute Patil, was found to be lagging. Even after repeated reminders to his parents, he fared badly and had to be detained. His father then approached the principal with request for promoting his son which was not considered.

Thus, from 2009 he started filing applications under the right to information act, seeking details about the school infrastructure and amenities. He even filed complaints with several authorities and also used his political connections based on which a show cause notice was issued to the school on April 7. However, even after submitting the necessary documents the education department passed the de-recognition order.

The hearing on the petition has been adjourned till July 18.