The court’s order further tasked the school committee with deliberating whether the current leaseholders of the encroached land should be offered alternative plots
By our correspondent
KARACHI: In a landmark decision, the Sindh High Court has directed the Chief Secretary to take immediate action to reclaim the encroached land of a government school located in Orangi Town, Karachi. The court issued this order during the hearing of a petition regarding the illegal occupation of the school’s vast premises, underscoring the pressing need to restore the land for educational development in the area.
The court’s directive emphasizes that the vacated land, once cleared of illegal occupants, must be reserved exclusively for educational purposes. In a forward-looking recommendation, the court suggested the establishment of either a university or a college on the reclaimed property, a move that could significantly elevate the educational prospects for Orangi Town, a densely populated and underserved area.
Authorities have been instructed to work in close consultation with the school committee and relevant education experts to ensure that the land is put to its intended use. The court’s order further tasked the school committee with deliberating whether the current leaseholders of the encroached land should be offered alternative plots. In what seems to be a balanced approach to resolving the issue, the committee has been given a three-month deadline to present its recommendations to the court.
The petitioner, whose efforts have brought the case to light, alleged that corrupt officials had facilitated the illegal occupation of the land, which spans a substantial 105,000 square yards. This land is part of the well-known “German School” in Orangi Town, making it a critical resource for the community’s educational infrastructure. The scale of the land and its potential for future development has drawn widespread public attention, heightening the importance of the court’s ruling.
The court’s ruling not only marks a victory for the petitioner but also sets a precedent for addressing encroachment issues that plague public lands across Karachi. By asserting the land’s intended use for education, the Sindh High Court has placed the importance of educational growth and access at the forefront of its decision. This is particularly crucial for a locality like Orangi Town, where access to quality educational facilities remains limited.
