Nagpur: The proposed state-of-the-art metro junction at city’s hyper busy Sitabuldi will finally move in the right direction. Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, on Monday, paved way for construction of said junction by directing the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to shift the primary school to nearby Netaji market within a week.
A division bench comprising justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Rohit Deo also instructed respondents, including the civic body and school authorities, to sort out the issue of Rs50 lakh outstanding rent in consultation with the Maharashtra government.
The court’s directives came after petitioner’s counsel Anil Kilor submitted that the Jawahar Education Society (JES), running the school, were not opposed to the development but concerned about the school and its pupils.
The court then instructed corporation to allot seven rooms at the Netaji Market premises for operating the school, before disposing of the case.
Besides, Jawahar Education Society (JES), school headmaster was another petitioner that challenged civic body’s notice of April 13 under Section 81-D of the Maharashtra Municipal Rules, asking it to vacate the premises to make way for upcoming metro rail junction. The petitioners were warned that if they failed to vacate the land, NMC wouldn’t hesitate to use the force to evict it.
JES submitted before the court that it currently runs a seven room Buty Primary School on the land given on rent by NMC since 1958. It also operates regular day as well as night schools there. The corporation recently increased ground rent by Rs700 per month taking it up to Rs1,40,729 per year.
The NMC argued that the society was supposed to have paid ground rent as per current market value and that Rs37.88 lakh towards rent are still in arrears between February 1, 2015, and April 30, 2017.
MMRCL in its application contended that though NMC handed over the land for metro station, the society is illegally occupying it and obstructing the development. It stated that land was sanctioned by NMC to it via resolution of October 6 last year by following due procedure of law. Till date however, its physical possession wasn’t been handed over to it because of illegal occupancy by the school.
The intervener added that it was in utmost need of the land for construction of junction of metro rail project, which would intercept east-west and north-south corridors. Considering the location’s importance, the land is immediately required for construction of station related structures and entry, exit points.
