Saudi Arabia Asks Indian School to Vacate Premises, Students Seek Sushma Swaraj’s Help

Hundreds of students and alumni of International Indian school Jeddah (IISJ) have sought Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj’s help to ensure the school is not closed.

According to reports, authorities in Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah had asked the management of the school to vacate the premises by Oct.9 which they did over the weekend. However, the management is now mulling closing the school permanently.

The school, formerly known as the Embassy of India School, which was founded in 1969, has two separate wings for boys and girls. While the girls school remains intact, the boys’ school had received an eviction notice, due to a dispute with the building owner.

According to a report in the Hindu, 3300 students and alumni have gone online to appeal to Swaraj to ensure the school isn’t vacated and doesn’t close permanently.

According to the publication, students in their petition have said, “It is a very difficult phase for all IISJ student and staff. We need quick action and help regarding this…Please Help us.”

A student Muhammad Shams took to the Twitter and tagged Swaraj and Ministry of External Affairs.

INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL JEDDAH, BOY SECTION                               We need help, Our school building that existed almost 49 years is being closed by the authorities, Its not just a building it is also our HOME #Sushmajipleasehelp #IISJUnite @SushmaSwaraj @MEAIndia

— muhammed shams (@muhammedshams3) October 6, 2018

The Consulate General of India in Jeddah, in a reply to a tweet by a student Rashaad Mirza, said, “Issue involves court verdicts which have gone against the School. Consequently, Embassy/Consulate and MoE cognizant of issue and taking measures for continuation of education of about 4200 students by following due norms, rules, regulations and procedures of the country.”

Issue involves court verdicts which have gone against the School. Consequently, Embassy/Consulate and MoE cognizant of issue and taking measures for continuation of education of about 4200 students by following due norms, rules, regulations and procedures of the country.

— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) October 6, 2018

The local authorities had asked the school management to vacate the school building after a court ruling which went in favor of the property owner.  The boys’ campus houses around 4200 students, while the main campus, which has over 6000 girls is 4 km away from the boys’ school.

The legal dispute started in 2005 and IISJ got a ruling in its favor in 2015 on the original petition but a local court quashed the ruling in 2016. The school was then ordered to pay Rs. 63 crore as rent for the time the dispute was in the court.

International Indian School in Jeddah.
Photo: Facebook

While the school, which is affiliated to CBSE, paid the rent, it appealed the court to let it function until March 2019, when the current academic year ends. However, the court did not listen to the plea and served the school with an eviction notice. The Indian embassy has filed petitions with the Royal Saudi Court for reconsidering and staying the eviction order.

The school later issued a circular on Oct.4 saying that it would be shutting down primary level classes for both the boys’ and girls until the situation is resolved.