Mohammad Yusuf: An ongoing controversy has erupted surrounding a play school situated within the Panchsheel Greens One Society in Greater Noida West. A recent incident captured on video shows a member of the Apartment Owners’ Association (AOA) team preventing young children from using the lift and insisting to take the stairs. The video has since gone viral on social media, sparking outrage among society residents.

Roots of Controversy

The dispute initially ignited on October 2^nd, 2022 when residents residing near the play school which is located in flat numbers 201 and 203 on the second floor of the B-2 Tower of Panchsheel Green-1 Society raised their objections. They expressed their discontent with the school’s presence due to disturbances caused by children’s activities and noise. The residents have been demanding the relocation of the school to a different area.

Differing Perspectives of Parents

Various families within the society have enrolled their children in this play school, citing the facility of education within the society. These parents emphasise the benefits of proximity and security, as the school is situated close to their homes. Following the growing scuffle, the school management issued a closure notice. In reaction, parents of the school’s attendees protested, prompting police intervention to mediate the situation.

Twist in the Incidents

In a startling turn of events, Vipin Tonk, a member of the AOA team, halted young children from using the lift, subsequently forcing them to use the stairs and urging them to proceed to a different school. The incident triggered a heated exchange between the parents and the AOA representative. Parents questioned the validity of the AOA’s decision, particularly after they were paying maintenance fees. The incident was captured on video, quickly gaining popularity on social media.

AOA’s Response

In response to the incident, the AOA issued a statement clarifying that while the individuals involved were AOA members, the decision to bar children from the lift was not an official AOA stance. The AOA suggested that the matter should be resolved through open dialogue and cooperation among the tower’s residents.