Fight for survival: Parents approach court to save Hyderabad school

15 acres of school land was leased out for agricultural use in July, 2012, by former principal, Muhammad Aslam Rana.

HYDERABAD:

A horse stable, a marriage hall and 15 acres of agricultural land occupy one-fourth of the 89 acres of valuable land belonging to one of the oldest and largest schools in Hyderabad. This was revealed in a report submitted in the Sindh High Court on Monday by the court’s additional registrar, Altaf Hussain.

The Public School Latifabad, situated in a posh locality in Latifabad Town, is experiencing one of the most adverse times of its existence. It is coping with financial issues, overstaffing, alleged embezzlement of funds, protesting teachers and unrest among the parents and students. The school, with an approximate enrollment of around 2,700 students, was hit by the teachers’ protests which continued for two months from November 2013.

The student’s parents, however, took up the cause on behalf of the school and are fighting a battle for its survival in the SHC. The court ordered an inquiry into the alleged encroachment on the school’s land at the last hearing. In his report, the registrar submitted that 15 acres of the school land was leased out for agricultural use in July, 2012, by the former principal, Muhammad Aslam Rana. The leaseholder, Mohsin Rzivi, has been given the lease for five years against a paltry sum of Rs7,500 per acre. Similarly, a marriage hall, owned by Rizwan Arain, occupies around 16,000 square feet - over three acres of the school’s land.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2014.