Lawrence School directed not to use Punjab grant

The controversy over Punjab deputy cheif minister Sukhbir Singh Badal “gifting” Rs 1 crore to his alma mater, the 174-year-old Lawrence School, Sanawar in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district refuses to die down.
 

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Punjab government on a petition filed by a former Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

The high court bench comprising Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice R K Jain directed the school to not to utilise the money till the disposal of the petition that will now come up for hearing on November 1.

‘Withdraw donation’

Advocate H C Arora representing Khaira in the court alleged that the Punjab’s deputy chief minister gave money to his alma mater from the funds which were allocated for development schemes in the state under Punjab Nirman Fund.  Arora said the donation given to the school be withdrawn.

Govt schools ignored

The petitioner submitted that Sukhbir had given the grant to the school in Himachal Pradesh while ignoring government schools in Punjab.

The schools here were in a “pitiable” state. The Punjab government had said institutions like Lawrence School belong to the nation and not to a particular state.

The counsel for the petitioner sought that the Punjab government restrains from getting Rs 1 crore cheque encashed.

Punjab advocate general said he would personally ensure that the fund is not utilised by the school till the disposal of the case by the court.