Historic Delhi Government School in Karachi Sealed, Education of 2,800 Students at Risk

Karachi:The historic Delhi Government School in Karachi’s Karimabad has been sealed on court orders, reportedly due to a long-running legal dispute and non-payment of rent, putting the education of more than 2,800 students at risk.

A sealing notice has been displayed on the building of the renowned government school, with students and parents expressing concern over the sudden closure.

The development has been attributed to alleged negligence by the Sindh Education Department, which reportedly failed to take timely interest in the legal dispute despite being responsible for paying monthly rent for the premises.

The building was originally owned by the Delhi Anglo-Arabic College and Schools Old Boys Association and was nationalized in the 1970s. The Sindh Education Department was required to pay rent to the owners, but prolonged non-payment eventually led the owners to approach the courts.

After a lengthy legal battle, the court reportedly ordered the school to be denationalized and the premises to be vacated and sealed over the outstanding rent issue.

Delhi Government School, comprising boys’ and girls’ sections as well as primary and secondary classes, has long been regarded as one of Karachi’s prominent and historic government educational institutions. The school has produced strong academic results for decades and had also secured a top position in the matriculation examinations a few years ago.

The sudden closure has raised serious concerns about the academic year of thousands of students, particularly those from low- and middle-income families who depend on affordable public education.

The incident is not the first time that a prominent government educational institution in Karachi has faced closure over property disputes and rent-related issues. Institutions including Aisha Bawany College and the Islamia College Complex have previously faced similar disputes and sealing actions.

Education-sector observers say delays in repairing school buildings, renewing leases and pursuing legal cases in a timely manner have contributed to such crises.

Meanwhile, students staged a protest outside Delhi Government School against the sealing of the institution and also held a sit-in outside the school premises, demanding that the authorities reopen the school and protect their educational future.