Landlords lock gates of residential welfare schools across Telangana over unpaid rents

The landlords of private buildings where the residential welfare educational institutions were functioning, decided to lock the gates over non-payment of rents for these buildings for the last 10 months

Hyderabad: Students, their parents and teachers who returned to the residential welfare educational institutions for SC, ST, BC and minorities after the Dasara holidays, were shocked to find these buildings locked at several places across the State. The landlords of private buildings where the residential welfare educational institutions were functioning, decided to lock the gates over non-payment of rents for these buildings for the last 10 months.

The private building owners displayed banners stating that they were forced to lock the buildings as per the notices served to the State government over non-payment of rents. “As there has been no response from the government, we are left with no option but to take this extreme step and lock the buildings. We will unlock the doors only after payment of pending rents. We urge people of Telangana to understand our compulsions,” the banner said.

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As the issue snowballed and the State government announced plans to register criminal cases against the landlords for locking up the government institutions, the main opposition BRS condemned the State government’s actions. The party demanded that the government clear the dues immediately and ensure that students are not put to any further inconvenience.

Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao questioned the inordinate delay in payment of rents for residential welfare hostels for past 10 months, forcing the owners to lock them. “The fact that the residential welfare schools are being ruined under the Congress government is evident from this incident. The Chief Minister must clarify when the rents would be paid. As the Education Minister, he should take up responsibility and ensure that the education in government schools is not destroyed forever,” he demanded.