School rushes to HC after closure notice

A school meant primarily for Parsi community has moved the Bombay High Court after Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai issued it a closure notice.
    
The vacation court has given J D Bharda English Medium school at Lamingoton Road, south Mumbai, a breather. Court stayed the MCGM notice till June 10, when a regular judge will hear the case.
    
Some 350 students are on the school's roll, its lawyer Shardul Singh said.
    
MCGM's education department served a notice to the school authorities on May 22, asking them to shut down the school by
June 1.
    
Corporation alleged that in the school's accounts, Rs 20 lakh were unaccounted for, and it must be a sum received as a capitation fee.
    
An aided school can not receive capitation fee, it said. However, according to the school, it is not aided, and the amount came from Sir Dorabji Trust.
    
Today, the corporation's lawyer said that the period for which school was granted recognition had expired three years ago.
    
However, Justice J P Deodhar pointed out that education officer did not cite this as a reason for his order.
    
Case has been adjourned till May 10.