Noida: A school sealed by the authorities in Noida, named the Uttarakhand Public School in Sector 56, had alleged non-payment of Rs.17 crores in land dues.
The school was sealed on Monday, after which parents of students had a meeting with the district magistrate on Tuesday and demanded a solution as they had already submitted the fees and were concerned about their wards’ admissions.
According to Manoj Kataria, founder of the Gautam Budh Nagar Parents Welfare Society (GPWS), the parents had planned to protest at the Noida authority office on Monday but decided against it due to the imposition of Section 144 in the Gautam Budh Nagar area.
Manoj Kataria said, “Over 200 parents of children studying in the school gathered near Kondli on the Noida-Delhi border to decide the further action plan as the protest was called off. We submitted a complaint at the Sector 58 police station against the school management, stating that since the school continued to take admissions and fees for new sessions from parents, despite several warnings of getting sealed, it amounts to fraud with parents by the school.”
Yatendra Kasana, president of the All Noida School Parents Association (ANSPA) said, “The school management has misused the fees paid by the parents and has not paid the dues of the Noida authority. However, by sealing the school, the future of at least 1,500 students has been left uncertain. Parents have paid the fees of the school and do not have enough funds to get their wards admitted to another school. Hence, we have requested the DM to find a solution to the matter.”
Sushil Prasad, assistant commissioner of police-2, Noida said, “However, an FIR has not been registered yet as the matter is pending inquiry.”
Manish Verma, district magistrate in Surajpur, Greater Noida said, “I am in touch with the officials of Noida authority regarding the matter and prima facie, it appears to be negligence on the part of the school management. As per the authority officials, the representatives of the school have not even contacted the authority or the district administration regarding the matter. I have directed the city magistrate to establish contact with the school management and sort out the matter. The district administration will not let students of the school suffer.”
An official of Noida authority, said, “Even after several notices, action had to be taken against the school for not depositing the dues. The school management has not yet contacted the authority regarding the matter so far”.
The principal of the school did not respond to the call and messages.
