Gujarat High Court seeks reply from govt on takeover of Seventh Day School management

Gujarat High Court has sought a response from the state government over its decision to take over the management of Seventh Day Adventist School in Maninagar, following a fatal incident involving Class 10 students.

The development comes after the school filed a Letters Patent Appeal before a division bench, challenging an earlier order by a single judge that had denied relief in the matter.

A bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D N Ray questioned why the investigation report in the case was not shared with the school, and scheduled the next hearing for April 13.

The court observed that the probe committee’s report had not been provided to the school, and no show-cause notice was issued despite the availability of a preliminary report. It further noted that action taken without giving the institution an opportunity to be heard amounts to a violation of the principles of natural justice.

The court also questioned the state government’s decision to assume control of a private minority institution under the Primary Education Act, stressing that due procedure of issuing a show-cause notice and granting a fair hearing must be followed.

The state has been directed to file a detailed affidavit in the matter before the next hearing.

According to the appeal, the government took over the school’s administration based on a report by the District Education Officer (DEO) after a student allegedly killed a fellow student on campus. At present, the DEO is managing the school, and new admissions have also been put on hold.