HC summons Don Bosco Shillong management over School demolition

The High Court of Meghalaya has taken a serious view of the “contemptuous” demolition of the 123-year-old building of the St Anthony’s Lower Primary School by the institute’s management. Hearing a PIL in the matter on Tuesday, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh observed that the demolition after the court’s December 9, 2024, order for inspection of the building was perplexing and shocking.

The PIL (public interest litigation) was initiated on the allegation that the school was run in an Assam-type colonial structure of significant architectural and historical value fit to be declared as a heritage building. Nevertheless, the management of the school proceeded to demolish it. To rule out any vested interest involved in the litigation, the school authority was given a notice for a hearing along with the petitioner and the respondent state on whether the building was a heritage structure and should be preserved by stalling its demolition and restructuring.