Malad school sends SOS to chief justice

Authorities allege ‘forceful’ demolition by forest officials

The management of Sai Vidyamandir High School, Malad, urged Bombay high court on Wednesday to intervene and stop the demolition of the school building by forest officials.

In a letter written to chief justice (CJ) Swatanter Kumar, the authorities said that forest officials had forcefully demolished a part of the school building, citing a court order prohibiting construction on private forest land.

“On Monday (September 29), forest officials came to the school and started the demolition. They broke down three of our classrooms. We have been forced to make some temporary arrangements for the students,” said Birendrakumar Tiwari, school principal.

“We were not issued any notice. They just said that the school was on forest land and started demolishing it,” said Ramavtar Mishra, chairman of the management committee.
“Earlier, when a school was demolished in 2004, its students could not get admission in any other school. That is why we have written a letter to the CJ, urging him to look into the matter as the future of some 600 children is at stake,” said Vidya Chavan, corporator from Malad (east).