According to official sources on December 2, Puducherry education minister T Thiagarajan was gheraoed by parents of a government run French school for girls demanding speedy renovation of the 19th century school premises.
A section of parents, agitated over the delay in renovating the building, closed the main gate of the school and gheraoed the minister and officials accompanying him when they visited the school for inspecting its structural stability, police said.
Security personnel accompanying the minister opened the gate enabling him and officials to move out of the premises.
Earlier, heated arguments erupted between the parents and the minister and the officials, including special secretary G Ragesh Chandra and director of education L Kumar, over the delay in renovation and government’s move to shift the classes to some other premises.
Spokesman of the Parents Students Association V Bala said the move to shift the classes at a time when exams were around the corner would affect the students.
The minister later told reporters that experts from IIT- Madras, Archealogical Survey of India among others would shortly inspect the school building and based on their recommendations, the government would take appropriate decisions. Till then classes would be held in some other premises, he said.
Puducherry government has embarked upon inspection of old buildings after the collapse of a 157-year old municipal building under renovation last week.