In an interim relief for 2,200 students of two schools in Uran, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) recently assured the Bombay High Court that it will not close down the schools by May 31.
Court Hearing Details
Justices Riyaz Chagla and Advait Sethna on May 7 were hearing a petition filed by parents of four students of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Vidyalaya, which operates in both English and Marathi mediums. The schools have been running since August 1991, initially managed by the Indian Education Society under an agreement with JNPA. Subsequently, in July 2020, a 15-year agreement was signed with the Rustomjee Kerawalla Foundation to run the schools.
Termination of Agreement
In May 2025, the foundation terminated the agreement by giving JNPA a one-year advance notice. On April 21, it issued a letter to the School Education and Sports Department and the deputy director of Education (Mumbai division), informing that both schools would be closed from May 31. This prompted the parents to move the High Court, stating that if the schools become non-operational, the future of their children and 2,200 others would be in serious jeopardy.
Petition Arguments
The petition argued that upon receiving the termination notice last year, JNPA should have taken positive proactive steps instead of a passive approach to protect the right to education of 2,200 minor children. Since its inception, JNPA has been under an obligation to establish a township near the port by providing facilities, including establishing and operating schools. Therefore, it should not be allowed to avoid performing such a legal obligation. The parents urged the High Court to direct the school authorities and the Centre to ensure that the children's education is not disrupted.
Urgent Relief Sought
Advocate Bhavesh Parmar, representing the parents, urged the High Court to grant urgent reliefs to protect the 2,200 children after May 31 if a new management does not take over. He noted that for the past year, the authorities did nothing to appoint a new management or make alternative schooling arrangements.
JNPA's Assurance
JNPA's advocate sought time to file a reply and place on record a letter of interest for taking over the management of the school. He stated that no coercive steps will be taken by JNPA in terms of discontinuing its school until the next date of hearing. The judges posted the petition for consideration on June 11.
