Srinagar: The government on Saturday sealed a private school for holding normal class work without observing any COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
It said the Oxford Presentation High School K.P Road Anantnag was violating the prescribed COVID-19 SOPs by holding the normal classes amid the ongoing pandemic.
District Magistrate Anantnag in an order, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Correspondent, reads, “Acting on complaint, a team inspected Oxford Presentation High School K.P Road Anantnag and it was found that normal class work was going on in the school without observing any SOP’s of COVID-19, especially in pre- primary classes in violation of government orders.”
The District Magistrate further said that the act of school administration may have serious ramifications as COVID-19 infection has not been controlled and government has strictly directed that normal school work shall not be resumed as the young kids are one of the vulnerable groups.
“In order to safeguard the precious lives and as a prophylactic measure, it is necessary to close the establishment to prevent the spread of disease,” it reads.
The order further reads, “District Magistrate Anantnag, in exercise of powers vested under Section 144 of the CrPC, Section 34 of National Disaster Management Act, 1897 do hereby order the closure of the premises till further orders besides imposition of penalty to the tune of Rs one lakh for violating guidelines of government.”
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Anantnag, Abdul Rub Shad said, “We were receiving complaints against Oxford Presentation High School K.P Road Anantnag of holding normal classes.”
“We intimated the matter with Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) for the action,” Shad said—(KNO)