Patna: A private school operating within the campus of IIT Patna has been shut down following an eviction order.
Foundation Academy, which had been functioning on the campus for the past decade, was directed to vacate the premises by March 19. After the deadline expired, authorities moved to seal the school earlier this week.
The institution, affiliated with the CBSE, offered classes from play-school level to Class 12 and catered to students from surrounding areas.
A team from the district administration arrived at the campus on Monday to enforce the order. Acting on directives from Danapur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Aniruddha Pandey, officials including Bihta Block Development Officer Shivjanam Ram, City Magistrate Ujjwal Kumar, Circle Officer Rakesh Kumar Singh and local police personnel carried out the action in coordination with IIT authorities.
Shivjanam Ram, who was present as magistrate, said the action was conducted in compliance with the sub-divisional administration’s orders, and confirmed that the school had been sealed.
According to IIT Patna Registrar A.K. Thakur, the institute had entered into an agreement with the private school, but alleged that the institution had been violating its terms for several years. “Despite multiple notices, the conditions were not adhered to, which led to this action,” he said.
However, the school administration has contested the move. Principal Abha Singh stated that a 33-year agreement had been signed between the Education Welfare Society and IIT Patna, and that the school had only completed 10 years of operation. She described the eviction notice as sudden and said the institution supported over 800 students and around 200 teaching and non-teaching staff.
The school’s director, Amit Prakash, has challenged the eviction order in the Patna High Court, where the matter is currently under consideration.
