Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench Senior Judge Justice Jawad Hasan expressed strong disapproval over the Punjab government's decision to extend summer vacations for classes from nursery to eight until August 31.
Questioning the logic behind the move, Justice Hasan remarked, "Do parents pay Rs70,000 in school fees just for schools to remain closed? Shouldn't the Chief Minister of Punjab be summoned to court over this?"
The remarks came during the hearing of a petition filed by student Daniyal, challenging the extension.
The petition was admitted for regular hearing, and Justice Hasan dismissed the Assistant Advocate General's argument, stating that students, being the affected party, have a constitutional right to file such petitions.
The court also issued notices to the Punjab Government, the Education Department, and the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi, asking them to respond next week.
Petitioner's counsel, Advocate Hafiz Waqar Awan, argued that the decision was made without justification and violated Section 12D of the Punjab Private Educational Institutions Act 1984, which delegates such powers to the District Education Authority in cases of emergency.
He said that halting educational activities for three months is akin to jeopardising students' futures.
Justice Hasan further questioned the Assistant Advocate General on what policy had guided the extension.
He pointed out that even during wartime, courts remained operational and that children should not be deprived of their fundamental right to education under the pretence of extreme weather.
Notices have been issued to the Secretary of Education and other respondents to submit their replies.
box
our correspondent
RAWALPINDI. After a prolonged 78-day summer vacation, schools across the six districts of Rawalpindi Division partially reopened on Monday, August 18.
However, attendance on the first day remained disappointingly low due to morning showers followed by heavy rain.
Only classes 9 and 10 resumed, while students from nursery to grade 8 will return on September 1. Most schools dismissed students as early as 10 or 11am due to the poor turnout.
In many institutions, schools opened latearound 8:00am instead of the scheduled 7:30amwith some teachers arriving to find the buildings still locked.
Security measures were also lax, with guards often without uniforms and main entrances left unsecured.
Cleanliness arrangements were notably absent on the first day. Several prominent higher secondary schools in Rawalpindi city, which had been converted into flood relief camps, also saw low attendance. Some camps remained closed due to rain.
In girls' schools, turnout was particularly poor. Despite the conditions, many students expressed joy at returning. Students from Islamia High School, Liaquat Bagh, said the summer homework was excessive, and they were relieved to be back in school.
Faizan Ali of Danish Higher Secondary School commented that the break was unusually long but welcomed the return to academic routine.
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