||KHURSHEED GILKAR
Putting question mark over the sincerity of the government towards ensuring betterment in the education in the state, the private schools of Kashmir continue to float the norms and fleeing money from the people sans any remorse. Though these schools have an understanding of providing free education to the poor students of Kashmir, there is not even a single instance in which the claim could get vindicated. On the contrary, these commercialised hubs have become the money making machines, taking for a ride the entire education department at large. Presentation Convent Srinagar is under possession of 90 kanals of state land, for which the school management is paying mere Rs 12000 (Twelve Thousand Only) as annual rent while this land has market value of more than Rs 500 crores as on date.
The said information has been revealed in an RTI application. Pertinently, Presentation Convent School is not at all a Non Profit Organisation as students in this school are charged huge fees by the school management. Other missionary schools of Srinagar, namely Tyndale Biscoe and Mallinson school Sheikh Bagh Srinagar have also been leased out around 85 kanals of state land and the management of this school have not paid any rent to the Government from the last 35 years. All these details have been obtained by RTI activist who is fighting a legal battle with some private schools which includes Biscoe Mallinson, Convent, DPS Srinagar and Burnhall and the case is pending before State Information Commission (SIC) which will is likely to give its judgment soon.
Presentation Convent Srinagar is under possession of 90 kanals of state land, for which the school management is paying mere Rs 12000 (Twelve Thousand Only) as annual rent while this land has market value of more than Rs 500 crores as on date.
The RTI reply from Tehsildar Nazool Srinagar under letter No: 91/RTI/ CAN dated 27.8.2013 reads that Biscoe and Mallinson School which occupies 84 kanals and 11 marlas of land in Sheikh Bagh Lal Chowk area of Srinagar are not paying any rent to the Government since 1980. The present market value of this property is estimated to be more than 700 crores and non payment of annual rent amounts to direct loss to state exchequer.
The same letter mentions about Presentation Convent School and the reply says that this school pays Rs 12000 as annual rent. Pertinent to mention missionary / Government aided private schools continue to deny information under Right to Information Act (RTI and recently the State Information Commission (SIC) has directed these school authorities to submit rejoinder within 10 days.
Other missionary schools of Srinagar, namely Tyndale Biscoe and Mallinson school Sheikh Bagh Srinagar have also been leased out around 85 kanals of state land and the management of this school have not paid any rent to the Government from the last 35 years.
During the case hearing before Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) G R Sufi here on Tuesday last, the CIC heard the counsels of Tyndale Biscoe School Srinagar, Burn Hall School , Presentation Convent, Delhi Public School (DPS) Srinagar etc. RTI activist Umar alleged that the missionary as well as some other schools do not admit 25 % students from BPL quota which according to lease agreement was to be done.
The RTI reply from Tehsildar Nazool Srinagar under letter No: 91/RTI/CAN dated 27.8.2013 reads that Biscoe and Mallinson School which occupies 84 kanals and 11 marlas of land in Sheikh Bagh Lal Chowk area of Srinagar are not paying any rent to the Government since 1980.