The Gujarat High Court on Friday questioned a private school over administrative and security lapses following the fatal stabbing of a Class 10 student by a fellow pupil on August 19 last year, which led the state government to take over its management.

Justice Nirzar Desai asked whether any parent, aware of the concerns raised by the state about the administration of Seventh Day Adventist School, would choose to admit their child to the institution.

The District Education Officer (DEO) assumed control of the school after public outrage over the incident. The school has challenged the administrative takeover, which came up for hearing before the court.

Opposing any interim relief to the school management, the state government submitted that the institution had been non-cooperative since mid-December and had failed to provide documents sought by authorities despite repeated requests. Government pleader GH Virk told the court that the school had also collected fees in cash and had not produced financial accounts demanded for over a month.

The state informed the court that new admissions were halted as a protective measure in the interest of student safety.

Rejecting the school’s submission that it was cooperating with the authorities, the court observed that a mere assertion of cooperation did not amount to compliance. It added that compensation could not undo the loss of a child or restore the shattered dreams of the bereaved parents.

The court remarked that the school appeared to be treating education as a commercial activity and said basic morality should have prompted the management to step aside once it became clear that it could not ensure student safety.

An association of parents, including the parents of the deceased student, opposing the school’s plea, has sought to be impleaded in the proceedings. The matter has been listed for further hearing on February 10.

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