Ahmedabad, Jan 23 (NationPress) The Gujarat High Court expressed severe disapproval of the prior management at the Seventh Day Adventist School in Ahmedabad, highlighting significant shortcomings in student safety, admission protocols, and overall governance.

This critique arose during a hearing concerning a petition that contests the state government's decision to impose administrative oversight on the institution. The state took control of the school in December 2025 following extensive scrutiny prompted by the tragic murder of a student on campus in August of the previous year.

A division bench addressing the case voiced deep concern over what it labeled as systematic failures at the school, questioning the trust parents could place in such an institution.

The court inquired, “Would parents send their children to your school only to lose them?”, emphasizing the duty of educational establishments to guarantee the safety and welfare of their students.

Additionally, the bench noted alleged oversights on the day of the tragic event, indicating that security personnel were negligent and failed to provide immediate help to the injured student. “On that day, your watchmen were asleep. Nobody came forward to help,” the judges remarked.

The petition, initiated by the school’s management, seeks to overturn the government order that placed the institution under administrative control. This takeover followed inquiries by education officials after the incident incited widespread protests and led numerous parents to withdraw their children from the school.

Defending the state's decision, government counsel G.H. Virk informed the court that an investigation by the District Education Officer had uncovered multiple irregularities, including breaches of the Right to Education Act, improper admissions, and poor record-keeping.

He further asserted that the school's financial dealings were allegedly conducted purely in cash. “Since the administration has taken over, several serious issues have surfaced,” he mentioned, adding that such intervention was crucial for student welfare.

The incident in August involved a Class 8 student reportedly stabbing a Class 10 student near the school's Khokhra Maninagar campus. Reports indicated that the injured student did not receive timely medical assistance from school staff and was subsequently transported to the hospital by family members, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

In response to the incident, over 160 parents reportedly requested transfer certificates for their children, citing concerns regarding campus safety and management.

The court stressed the importance of rigorous due diligence in admissions and compliance with safety standards, cautioning against treating educational institutions as profit-driven entities. “It is not appropriate to turn a school into a money-printing machine,” the bench commented.

The case has been scheduled for further hearings on February 10.