Gujarat School Files High Court Petition Against AMC Lease Cancellation Notice
The Seventh Day Adventist Higher Secondary School has escalated its legal battle by filing a fresh petition in the Gujarat High Court. This latest legal move challenges a show-cause notice issued by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) that questions why the school's land lease should not be terminated.
Background of the AMC Notice and Lease Agreement
The controversy stems from a 99-year lease agreement signed in 2003, where the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation leased a land parcel in Khokhra to the India Financial Association of Seventh Day Adventist trust. The explicit purpose of this lease was to operate a school on the premises.
In November 2025, the AMC issued a formal show-cause notice to the trust after discovering what it alleges are significant breaches of the lease conditions. The civic body's investigation revealed that multiple educational institutions were being operated within buildings constructed on the leased land, rather than a single school as originally intended.
Details of the Alleged Lease Violations
According to the AMC's notice, the leased plot is being utilized by three distinct educational entities:
- Primary Education: Managed by Ashlok Education Society
- Secondary and Higher Secondary Education: Operated by The Council of Seventh Day Adventist Education Institutions
- College-Level Education: Also run by The Council of Seventh Day Adventist Education Institutions
The municipal corporation contends that none of these educational activities are being directly administered by the original leaseholder trust, representing a clear violation of the lease terms that specified the trust itself must run the educational institution.
Tragic Incident Preceding the Investigation
The AMC's scrutiny of the school's operations gained momentum following a tragic incident in August of the previous year. Fifteen-year-old Class 10 student Nayan Santani was fatally stabbed by a junior student on the premises and succumbed to his injuries a day later. This devastating event prompted increased oversight of educational institutions in the area.
Legal Arguments Presented in Court
During the court proceedings, the school's legal representative argued vigorously against the AMC's position. The advocate contended that the municipal corporation lacks the legal authority to terminate the lease agreement based on alleged breaches of conditions. This fundamental jurisdictional challenge forms the core of the school's defense against the potential lease cancellation.
Court Proceedings and Future Hearing
The Gujarat High Court has scheduled the next hearing in this contentious case for March 3. During the initial proceedings, the AMC's legal counsel requested additional time to prepare their response to the school's petition, which the court granted. This legal confrontation represents a significant test of municipal authority versus institutional autonomy in educational land use agreements.
The outcome of this case could establish important precedents regarding lease enforcement for educational institutions across Gujarat and potentially influence how municipal bodies monitor compliance with land use agreements for schools and colleges throughout the state.
