Islamabad: The Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took notice on an application of residents of Darbar Roshan Shah and Ratta Bhar Chak No. 175, Tehsil and District Jhang stating therein that the schools in their village are under illegal occupation of some influential persons and further they find it inconvenient to admit their children in private schools as they are unable to pay huge fee. Therefore, they requested the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan for justice.
The action was taken and the application was forwarded to DCO Jhang for disposal and report, who submitted in his report that “on the application, the District Officer (R), Jhang reported that land belonging to the Education Department measuring 28 kanals and 07 marlas situated in Chak No. 175/JB, District Jhang is under illicit cultivation of Wajid Ali Khan and he has sown wheat crop on it. Similarly land comprising of Khasra No.66 Kila No.20 min, measuring 03 kanals 189 marlas, remained under illicit cultivation of Ghulam Muhammad. He sew Mustered crop on it and reaped the same without paying anything to the Govt. After taking in to custody the crops have been handed over on ‘superdari’ by the Revenue Department and a criminal case has been got registered vide FIR No. 139 dated 23.03.2011 u/s 440, 447, 34 at PS Mochiwala, Jhang against the above said illicit cultivators by the Education Department. It has been further reported that the both school buildings are lying vacant as the schools have been merged in the other schools due to less enrolment. ”
After going through the report of DCO Jhang, the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan passed the order that ”Copy of application and report be sent to Chief Secretary Punjab to ensure that possession of land in occupation of unauthorized occupants is got vacated; the School Building are properly protected; examine the feasibility of making these schools re-operational; and submit report within 15 days”
Complying with the orders of the HCJP, the report was submitted that “the Govt. Primary School Darbar Roshan Shah and Govt. Girls Primary School Ratta Bhir were merged in other schools due to the reason that enrolment of these schools was very poor and these schools were situated within the radius of 0.5 to 1.0 kilometre. The buildings of the merged schools occupied by the illegal occupant have been got vacated.
The vacant buildings of the said schools are being handed over to the Revenue Department through the DCO, Jhang so that the same could be utilized for any other purpose in the public interest. The District Education Officers concerned were directed to examine the feasibility of making these schools re-operational. Accordingly to the latest report dated 22.04.2011 the said schools are not feasible for making re-operational.”
After perusal of the above report, the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan has been pleased to pass the order that “the application be filed”.
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