Gujarat High Court Criticises State Government and AMC Over Pre-School Closures

Ahmedabad : In a significant development, the Gujarat High Court has rebuked the State Government and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for their recent closure of over 150 pre-schools in Ahmedabad, citing lack of fire safety measures. Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi, reacting to a newspaper report highlighting the closures, emphasised that the authorities must prioritise fire safety inspections over indiscriminate shutdowns.

The court’s directive follows a public interest litigation concerning the safety of educational institutions, particularly pre-schools operating in residential buildings. Concerns were raised over the abrupt closure of these facilities, which primarily cater to working-class families and operate during daytime hours.

“The authorities should sensitize school management about fire safety measures rather than resorting to extreme measures like closure,” remarked Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal during the proceedings. The bench emphasized that while fire safety compliance is non-negotiable, shutting down educational institutions without adequate warning or support could disrupt children’s education and inconvenience parents.

Earlier directives stemmed from a tragic fire incident at Shreya Hospital in Ahmedabad, prompting the court to scrutinise fire safety protocols across various establishments. Despite these efforts, recent actions by the AMC, including sealing properties without building use (BU) permission and fire no-objection certificates (NOC), have sparked controversy.

The AMC’s decision to seal preschools mere weeks after granting permission to operate has raised eyebrows. According to municipal guidelines, institutions lacking fire safety certification were given a 30-day ultimatum to comply, with assurances that seals would be lifted upon compliance. However, critics argue that such stringent measures should be accompanied by adequate support and guidance to prevent unnecessary disruptions.

Responding to the court’s admonition, the AMC defended its actions as necessary for public safety, especially in light of recent fire incidents in the state. However, the High Court bench expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which closures were enforced, suggesting a lack of proportionality and foresight in handling the issue.