Ahmedabad, Jan 23 (IANS) The Gujarat High Court on Friday sharply criticised the former management of Seventh Day Adventist School in Ahmedabad, citing serious lapses in student safety, admission procedures and overall governance.

The observations were made during the hearing of a petition challenging the state government’s decision to place the institution under administrative control. The state assumed control of the school in December 2025 following sustained scrutiny after the murder of a student on the campus in August last year.

A division bench hearing the matter expressed grave concern over what it described as systemic failures at the school, questioning whether parents could place their trust in the institution.

“Would parents send their children to your school only to lose them?” the court asked, underscoring the responsibility of educational institutions to ensure the safety and well-being of students.

The bench also pointed to alleged lapses on the day of the fatal incident, observing that security personnel were inattentive and no immediate assistance was provided to the injured student. “On that day, your watchmen were asleep. Nobody came forward to help,” the judges noted.

The petition, filed by the school management, seeks to set aside the government order placing the institution under administrative control. The takeover followed investigations by education authorities after the incident triggered widespread protests and prompted several parents to withdraw their children from the school.

Defending the state’s action, government advocate G.H. Virk told the court that an inquiry by the District Education Officer had revealed multiple irregularities, including violations of the Right to Education Act, improper admissions and deficiencies in record-keeping.

He further submitted that the school’s financial transactions were allegedly conducted entirely in cash. “Since the administration has taken over, several serious issues have come to light,” he said, adding that the intervention was necessary in the interest of student welfare.

The August incident involved a Class 8 student allegedly stabbing a Class 10 student near the school’s Khokhra Maninagar campus. Reports indicated that the injured student did not receive immediate medical assistance from school staff and was later taken to the hospital by family members, where he succumbed to his injuries.

In the aftermath, more than 160 parents reportedly sought transfer certificates for their children, citing concerns over campus safety and management.

Emphasising the need for strict due diligence in admissions and adherence to safety norms, the court cautioned against treating educational institutions as profit-driven enterprises. “It is not appropriate to turn a school into a money-printing machine,” the bench observed.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on February 10.

–IANS

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