Shimla, Jun 25 (IANS): The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed the principal of a school in Kullu town to take steps to return the money collected from the students to enable their parents to admit them in other schools and to shut the kindergarten school.

It also vacated its stay of April 22 under which the notice issued by the District Program Officer for shutting down 'Our Lady of the Snow Kindergarten' was stayed.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice D.C. Chaudhary passed the order on a petition filed by the Principal, challenging the District Program Officer's notice for shutting down the school owing to certain deficiencies, including basic facilities such as a playground and child-friendly toilets.

The court had directed the Secretary of District Legal Services Authority to inspect the school and submit the report.

The report pointed out deficiencies related to staff, the building, minimum number of instruction hours per day, library and physical safety.