Ludhiana, June 30 -- A tense standoff has emerged between Northern Railways and the education department after the railways issued a notice ordering the Government Senior Secondary School near Jagraon Bridge to vacate the land within 15 days. The notice, dated June 4 from the senior section engineer (works) of Northern Railways, Ludhiana, clearly stated that if the school did not move out or failed to submit valid proof of land ownership by June 19, the building could be demolished.

School principal Balbir Kaur expressed shock at the sudden notice. "The letter came out of nowhere, and we immediately informed the district education officer (secondary)," she said, adding that while no immediate action has been taken by the railways, discus...