The Government Primary School at Soldha village in the Jawali Assembly constituency of Himachal Pradesh reopened on Friday after remaining closed for two days, following the removal of barbed-wire fencing that had blocked its entrance. The fencing was erected by Meena Devi, wife of late Sher Singh, who claimed her family had won a High Court case against the Education Department over ownership of a portion of the land on which the school was established more than four decades ago.
School closure disrupts students' return after summer break
Students and teachers, who had returned after the month-long summer vacation on July 1, were shocked to find the school's entrance barricaded with barbed wire, preventing access to the campus. The incident triggered protests by local residents, who termed it an attempt to deprive children from underprivileged families of their right to education. The land for the school was reportedly donated by late Rameshwar Dutt of Kotla village.
According to villagers, Meena Devi erected the fencing after claiming a High Court judgment in her favour. However, Block Elementary Education Officer (BEEO), Kotla, Des Raj said his office had not received any High Court judgment or execution order relating to the disputed land.
Villagers remove fencing in presence of officials
On Friday, residents gathered at the school and, in the presence of the Naib Tehsildar, Kotla, the BEEO, and the pradhan of Soldha gram panchayat, removed the barbed-wire fencing, allowing classes to resume. Megh Raj Jaswal, the newly elected pradhan of Soldha gram panchayat, said Sher Singh had challenged the ownership of the donated land several years ago. He alleged that instead of following the legal procedure for taking possession of the disputed land, Meena Devi forcibly removed the school's entrance gate and blocked access by erecting the fencing.
Legal action initiated against claimant
The gram panchayat and the School Management Committee have lodged a complaint at the Kotla police check post, seeking legal action against Meena Devi for allegedly attempting to take possession of land being used by a government educational institution. Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jawali, Narinder Jaryal said that even if the claimant possessed a High Court judgment in her favour, blocking the school's entrance without obtaining an execution order and informing the Education Department was not lawful. He added that legal action was being initiated in accordance with the law.
BEEO Des Raj said he had submitted a detailed report to the higher authorities regarding the incident. The school's reopening brings relief to students and parents, who had been unable to access education for two days due to the dispute.
