Mysuru: Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) Uday Kumar inspected the 125-year-old Government High School at Vontikoppal yesterday evening to assess the ongoing land dispute. This morning, Mysuru North Block Education Officer (BEO) K.V. Suresh also inspected the school.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Uday Kumar said inquiries with former headmasters, retired teachers and other staff indicated that the disputed land originally belonged to the Government School. According to him, the playground was used for several decades by a neighbouring Railway-run school, with both institutions informally coordinating play hours to avoid disruption to classes.

Students of the Railway school reportedly used the ground before 10 am, after 4.30 pm or during the final school period.

“This long-standing arrangement gradually created the misconception that the playground belonged to the Railways, even though historical records point to State Government ownership,” he said. 1955 records

Uday Kumar said several old documents support the school’s claim. Records dating back to 1955 identify the land as part of the Government School. A document from 1971 shows that the school authorities had sought a monthly rent of Rs. 20 from the Railways for using the land, indicating the school’s control over the property.

He added that correspondence from 1991 further strengthens the school’s claim, as it records the Government School offering to sell or transfer a portion of the land to the Railways at its assessed value, suggesting that ownership vested with the school.

Uday Kumar said a meeting has been convened with the Regional Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner on Monday (July 13), during which all the documents will be presented to establish the school’s legal claim over the land.