HC order to close uneconomic school

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to implement before May 27 its order for closing down the Malaparamba Aided Upper Primary School in Kozhikode.

Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar issued the directive when a contempt of court petition filed by school manager P.K. Padmarajan came up for hearing.

Issuing the directive earlier, the court had observed that closing down of the school was the right of the Manager.

Since the school in question did not have recognition under the Right to Education Act, the right of the Manager to close down the school, as obtaining under the Kerala Education Act and Rules, was absolute and could not be interfered.

The petitioner pointed out that the State government was yet to comply with the directive of the Kerala High Court for shutting down the school before March 31.

The government proposed to do away with the school as it was considered an uneconomic one. Besides, a portion of the land was being acquired for widening the Wayanad-Kozhikode highway.