- Arbitration tribunal directed Global Education Research Foundation Trust to vacate school premises by May 31, 2026, following alleged lease agreement violations
• Award also mandates payment of over ₹3.68 crore in outstanding rent along with 9% annual interest to landowners
• Landowners allege trust has neither vacated the property nor cleared dues despite expiry of the tribunal’s deadline
• Representations submitted to education authorities, district administration and state government seeking intervention
• More than 200 students enrolled at the CBSE-affiliated institution could face uncertainty if the dispute remains unresolved
NE NEWS SERVICE
VADODARA, JUNE 3
A legal dispute involving Global Discovery School at Ampad near Sevasi in Vadodara taluka has escalated after the operating trust allegedly failed to comply with an arbitration award directing it to vacate the school premises and settle outstanding lease dues.
According to documents cited by the landowners, the dispute stems from an alleged breach of conditions contained in a lease agreement executed between the school’s operating trust, Global Education Research Foundation Trust, and the owners of the land and building housing the institution.
The Arbitration Centre, acting pursuant to proceedings initiated under directions of the High Court, reportedly passed an award in October 2025 directing the trust to hand over peaceful possession of the premises to the landowners by May 31, 2026. The award also directed the trust to pay ₹3,68,61,234 in outstanding rent together with annual interest at 9 per cent.
Landowners Uttam Patel and Ramesh Patel contend that despite the expiry of the deadline and the passage of several months since the award, the trust has neither vacated the premises nor cleared the dues stipulated in the arbitration order.
According to the petitioners, the lease agreement required the trust to pay rent for a built-up area measuring 29,543 square feet on a monthly basis. They allege that repeated defaults in rent payments and other contractual obligations prompted them to issue a series of legal notices beginning in 2018. The notices allegedly went unanswered, leading the landowners to seek legal recourse.
The matter subsequently reached the High Court, which in September 2023 ordered arbitration proceedings and appointed an arbitrator to adjudicate the dispute.
Following hearings involving both parties and an examination of documentary evidence, the arbitrator is stated to have ruled in favour of the landowners, directing the trust to vacate the premises and settle the outstanding financial liabilities within the stipulated period.
A key concern arising from the dispute is its potential impact on students enrolled at the CBSE-affiliated institution. More than 200 students, from pre-primary classes to Standard X, are currently studying at the school.
The landowners have alleged that parents have not been informed about the arbitration award and its implications. To prevent disruption to students and prospective admissions, they have submitted written representations to the Vadodara District Education Officer, the District Collector and the State Education Minister seeking intervention.
The representations reportedly urge the authorities to examine the implications of the arbitration award and take appropriate action in accordance with applicable education and regulatory norms.
The landowners have further expressed concern that if the matter remains unresolved and the competent authorities do not initiate timely proceedings, uncertainty could arise regarding the future of existing students as well as those seeking admission in the coming academic sessions.
The school management’s response to the allegations and the arbitration award was not available at the time of filing this report.
Note: The allegations regarding lease violations, non-payment of dues and non-compliance with the arbitration award are based on claims made by the landowners and documents cited by them. Any appeal, challenge or subsequent legal proceedings, if initiated, would be subject to adjudication by the competent judicial authorities.
