K. ZOUTAWN Vs. STATE OF MANIPUR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed by the petitioners, who are stated to be the Chairman and Secretary of the Managing Board Committee of Hill Model High School and the Headmaster of the said School seeking to set aside the impugned order dated 22.2.2016 issued by the first respondent.

(2.) The case of the petitioner is that Hill Model Government Aided High School was established in the year 1971 with the sole objective of enlightening and imparting education to the remote areas of Singngat Sub-Division, Churachandpur District, Manipur Hill Model Government Aided High School produced a good number of officers serving in Central and State Governments in various fields. With the kind assistance from the Government of Manipur, the school was running smoothly. While so, the Government was trying to take over many Aided High Schools, including Hill Model Government Aided High School. Therefore, on 14.5.2008, the Managing Board Committee of the School submitted a representation to the Additional Director (Hills), Education-S), Government of Manipur objecting the proposal for taking over of the School. On 30.11.2015, the Managing Board Committee submitted a representation to the Hon'ble Chief Minister to rescind the Cabinet decision to upgrade the said Hill Model Government Aided High School into a Government High School. However, on 22.2.2016, the 1st respondent issued the impugned order, thereby taking over as many as 13 Aided High Schools and amalgamating them with the existing 13 High Schools which includes the petitioners School. Challenging the same, the petitioners have filed this writ petition.

(3.) Resisting the writ petition, the respondents filed affidavit-in-opposition stating that the respondent authorities had obtained no objection certificate for conversion of the School into a full fledged Government High School from the Secretary of the said Aided School. It is stated that 11 out of 13 Government Aided Schools are functioning at the same building and campuses with 11 Government Junior High Schools having Classes I-VIII. The campuses of the remaining 2 Aided Schools are adjacent to the campuses of the 2 Government Junior High Schools. The existence of 2 different categories of Schools in the same adjacent building and campuses is causing administrative difficulties.