LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench, led by Senior Judge Justice Jawad Hasan, expressed strong disapproval over the Punjab government’s decision to extend the summer vacation for students in classes from nursery to grade 8 until August 31.
During the hearing of a petition filed by student Daniyal, Justice Hasan questioned the reasoning behind this decision, asking, “Do parents pay Rs70,000 in school fees just for schools to remain closed? Shouldn’t the Chief Minister of Punjab be summoned to court over this?”
Justice Hasan admitted the petition for regular hearing and dismissed the Assistant Advocate General’s argument, affirming that students, as the affected party, have a constitutional right to file such petitions. Notices were issued to the Punjab Government, the Education Department, and the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi, asking them to respond next week.
The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Hafiz Waqar Awan, argued that the extension violated Section 12D of the Punjab Private Educational Institutions Act 1984, which authorizes such decisions only in cases of emergency and by the District Education Authority. Awan added that suspending education for three months was detrimental to students’ futures.
Justice Hasan also questioned the Assistant Advocate General about the policy that guided this decision, noting that courts remain operational during extreme conditions, such as wartime, and similarly, students should not be deprived of their fundamental right to education due to weather conditions.
Notices have been issued to the Secretary of Education and other respondents to submit their replies.
