Court rejects plea to reopen private schools during epidemic

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has dismissed the plea to reopen private schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a hearing of a petition related to the reopening of schools Chief Justice Athar Minullah turned down the plea saying that it was not the job of the courts to interfere in matters of the executive.

The applicant’s lawyer, in his arguments, said that people’s jobs related to private schools were in threat due to schools being closed. The petitioner’s lawyer further said that the government’s decision to order the closure of schools was violating the basic rights of the public.

At this, the IHC judge remarked that the COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge for the entire country. Chief Justice Athar Minullah asked “Why do you want schools to reopen? This is the work of the executive, not of the courts, the court cannot interfere in the work of the executive.”

He said that it is the job of the government to deal with the COVID-19. The top judge said, “We have opened courts keeping in view the government’s policy.” He added that currently, the number one priority was to save people’s lives.

The judge remarked that even developed countries have not reopened schools. The lawyer responded by saying that the government did not do anything for the private school teachers, to which the chief justice said that they can lodge a complaint with the relevant government department.

The court later dismissed the petition upon the applicant’s decision to withdraw it. The government had shut down schools across the country since 7 May to limit the spread of the COVID-19.

Earlier, President Dr. Arif Alvi had urged all the universities and other higher educational institutions to provide online education to avoid students’ academic loss in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

The university needed to focus on research and innovation as well as strengthen its linkages with national and international universities so as to promote quality education in the country, president Alvi added.