Cuttack: Underscoring that playgrounds are as important as classrooms in a child’s education, Orissa high court has stayed construction on a land recorded in the name of a govt school in Kendrapada district, observing that students cannot be deprived of facilities essential for their physical and mental development.A division bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman passed the interim order on July 17, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Madan Mohan Behera and six other residents of Bhagabatpur. The petition alleged that authorities had begun constructing a vending zone-cum-daily market on Balia High School’s playground land. The PIL has been listed for further hearing on July 29.Highlighting the role of sports in modern education, the bench observed that academic learning cannot be viewed in isolation from physical activity. “The education system introduced in our country has undergone a sea change by passage of time and the sports activities are also included in the education system,” the bench said.The bench added, “While the students are being taught different subjects, they are also entitled to the sports, which in recent times is growing fast. It would not only help the students to grow physically as well as mentally but also inculcate a sense of discipline, which is commonly known as sportsmanship.”According to the petitioners, the school’s entire 3.81-acre campus, including the playground, is recorded in its name in the record of rights, and rent revenue is being regularly paid for the land. They contended that the govt had initiated construction on the playground without legal authority, jeopardising the students’ right to sports facilities.Appearing for the state, advocate Biswabara Dash argued that the construction activity was outside the school’s boundaries and playground. However, the submission was disputed by the petitioners’ counsel Bhabani Sankar Das.Taking note of the record of rights indicating that the disputed land stands in the school’s name, the bench restrained the authorities from carrying out any construction on the plot until the next hearing. It clarified that the restraint would not apply if the construction were found to be beyond the land recorded in the school’s name.Calling discipline “an important facet of life”, the judges remarked, “It is improbable that the Govt would deprive the students of the school to use and enjoy the playground attached to the said school building.”
