Srinagar: Authorities in Budgam district sealed two private schools and imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on each of them for holding classes without any Covid-19 SOPs in place, thereby putting the students’ lives at risk.
An order issued by Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Shahbaz Mirza said that Peace School Nagam and SQM Islamic School Namtehal were found conducting normal class work without observing the mandatory SOPs to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
It said that the violation on part of the school administrations involving crowding of students despite pandemic could have serious ramifications on the school kids who are said to be vulnerable to the contagion.
Both the schools have been sealed under sections 144 of CrPc and 34 of the National Disaster Management Act of 1897 even as a fine of Rs 30,000 has been imposed on each of them.
Tehsildar and SHO Chadoora have been asked to immediately seal the school premises and file the compliance report in this regard.
Pertinently, on Saturday, another private school in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, Oxford Presentation High School was similarly sealed for holding classes without COVID-19 SOPs in place. A fine of Rs 1 lakh was imposed on the management.

Irshad Khan