Barrackpore: The army has demolished the main entrance to a school in Barrackpore, a portion of its boundary wall and an adjoining tin shed but it wants all 27 schools in the Barrackpore cantonment area to move out because it "cannot allow any commercial activity" on the premises.

The army had allowed the private schools to operate as a social service initiative. But over the past few years, these institutes have been asked to relocate.

"The army is the custodian but the land belongs to the ministry of defence. No institution within the cantonment board area can carry out any commercial activity, including running a school, because it is in violation of the terms and conditions," said a senior officer of the Eastern Command.

Several of the schools argued that they are not profit- making bodies.

"When the schools started three decades ago or earlier, they catered to a small population but as the demand grew, the number of students increased and we have been providing a service in the area. The army cannot uproot us now saying we are involved in commercial activity," said a managing committee member of one of the schools in the area.

The also said they paid taxes to the cantonment board at commercial rates.

The 27 schools have about 40,000 students and around 5,000 teachers and employees. "What will happen to them if the schools shut down?" asked an official of a school in the cantonment area.

The schools are affiliated to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations, Central Board of Secondary Education and West Bengal Board of Higher Secondary Education.

The army demolition drive on Tuesday has spread panic not only among students and parents of Modern English Academy, where the bulldozer was in action, but other schools in the area as well.

The army has said the action was in keeping with government orders.

"Despite agreeing to follow the norms, the school has been violating them. The army action was in keeping with the government orders," a senior officer of the Eastern Command said.

The cantonment board officials said the district administration had been alerted about illegal constructions in the area. "Originally, the land where the school stands was bungalow No. 34. Now it is a school and there is commercial activity," the officer said.

Modern English Academy, however, there has been no change of purpose since its inception. "We are not a profit- making body," said an official.

Several schools said they have to seek the cantonment board's permission for any repair or construction but are refused in most cases.

Some schools said they have registered deeds of purchase for the land but the cantonment board refuses to acknowledge that.