A public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Madras High Court Bench here seeking a direction to the state government to take over the administration of Madurai Labour Welfare Association (MLWA) Higher Secondary School, a government- aided institution on the verge of closure, in the city.
Taking up the case for hearing on Tuesday, a Division Bench comprising Justice K.N. Basha and Justice P. Devadass ordered notice to the Education Department, the school secretary and individuals involved in its administration. The Bench also wanted to know the state’s stand on the petitioner’s interim plea for appointment of a special officer to administer the institution.
N. Satheesh Kumar, a lawyer and alumni of the school, had filed the petition, alleging that the school management had stopped admitting new students and was also forcing students to obtain Transfer Certificates in order to close it down on the ground of poor student strength and then sell its properties to a private party for a hefty sum.
According to him, the school was established in 1946 for imparting education exclusively to the employees of Madura Coats. It was later thrown open to everyone and provided quality education to the children of poor people. It was one of the finest educational institutions which charges a meagre amount of Rs. 87 a year from every student even now, he said.
