HC restrains govt from reopening schools on June 15

Nagpur, June 8 (UNI) The High Court here today restrained the Government of Maharashtra from implementing its decision of re-opening schools in the Vidarbha region along with other parts of the state on June 15 next after the summer vacation.

A division bench consisting of Justice Ambadas Joshi and Justice R C Chavan also directed the government to fix the fresh date for the re-opening of schools in the region.

The directives came in response to a petition challenging the government's decision to re-open the schools on the same day, that is June 15, across the entire Maharashtra at the end of the summer vacation. The petition had been filed by Citizens Forum and five other voluntary organisations.

The contention of the petitioners was that the climatic conditions in various parts of the state were different. The weather remained hot in Vidarbha even in the middle of June, which would pose problems for the students and teachers alike, the petition said.

The government had issued an order on April 30, 2007, that schools across the state would re-open the same day, and that institutions in Vidarbha would work in the morning shift in view of the heat. The decision was being opposed by teachers and parents alike.

UNI