SC orders cancellation of Royal Institute Nugegoda licence

• Orders demolition of illegally constructed building occupied without CoC 
• UDA and Municipal Council given three months to implement orders 

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered international school Royal Institute Nugegoda to remove the school from its premises in Chapel Road within three months, cancelling its licence to run a school in the premises. 

The Court also ordered a building erected in the premises to be demolished, as it has been deemed an illegal construction without proper permits. The Court also held that the building has been occupied illegally, as the Certificate of Occupation has not been issued by authorities.  

The three-member bench, comprising of Supreme Court Judges Sisira J de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena PC, and L.T.B. Dehideniya, ordered the cancelation of all permits if any has been granted to Royal Institute, the ninth Respondent, to carry on business of an international school at Chapel Road, Nugegoda.

The Urban Development Authority and Municipal Council, who were named as the first and the second Respondents of the case by ten Petitioners, were given three months to implement all orders against the international school, which has a student population of 1900 studying in the Chapel Road premises.  

Noting that the second building in the premises of No. 10, Chapel Road, Nugegoda is an illegal building, and running of any private school or international school at Chapel Road is also illegal, the Court held that the Urban Development Authority and Municipal Council have violated the Fundamental Rights of the Petitioners, guaranteed by Article 12(1) and 14(1) (h) of the Constitution.

Ten residents of Chapel Road petitioned the Court against running of a private school in Chapel Road, as constructing a high rise building in the area is illegal.