Pune: Supreme Court Paves Way For Demolition Of Unauthorized School Buildings In Karvenagar
Karvenagar, 13th May 2023: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) faced a setback in their action against four illegally constructed school buildings in Karvenagar, as a stay order was issued by the Supreme Court. However, later in the evening, the PMC received relief as the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of the buildings yesterday.
The Sri Mallikarjuna Education Society had constructed a school on an open plot within the Girish Co-operative Society in Karvenagar, Pune. The society filed a case against the unauthorized construction, leading to a High Court order for the demolition of the school building. Consequently, the Municipal Corporation initiated the demolition process on Friday.
The school management approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the proceedings. A bench comprising Justices Abhay Oak and Rajesh Bindal adjourned the proceedings, scheduling the petition to be heard at the end of the day as it involved a school-related matter. During this time, the Municipal Corporation partially demolished the school, but the action was halted following the court’s order.
Upon reexamination of the petition, it was revealed that in 2018, the school had violated the court’s order by admitting students. The lawyers representing the school failed to provide any assurance that they would refrain from admitting students for the academic year 2023-24.
The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision and declined to interfere in the matter. The Municipal Corporation was instructed to lift the moratorium on demolishing the school buildings and proceed with the necessary steps. The court’s order made it explicitly clear.
Shrikant Vaidande, the executive engineer of the building department, stated, “Demolition of the school building began on Friday morning but was halted due to the stay order. However, with the Supreme Court’s order for demolition issued in the evening, further action will be taken accordingly.”
Nisha Chavan, the Legal Advisor and Head of the PMC Legal Department at Pune Municipal Corporation, stated, “According to the High Court’s orders, action was initiated against the school buildings this morning. Although the school obtained an interim stay from the Supreme Court, the court has now dismissed the petition against the Municipal Corporation and has ordered the demolition of all four school buildings.”
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