It’s a government school run by a private management! This is how residents of Brahmawadi in Koppal town describe a corporation middle school in their locality. The blatant misuse of the government school premises came to light on September 17 following suspension of principal Hanumanth Rao Kamplikar for “renting out’’ a part of the school premises to a nearby private school. “It has been going on for more than five years. Senior officials pay a customary visit every year,’’ said local councillor Dhyamanna.

He said the private institution, Vinayaka Primary School, run by influential local leaders, had encroached on two rooms of the government school to run its classes. This had happened reportedly in connivance with the government school principal and other staff members. “The entire premises of the government school had been usurped by the private school. They conducted classes, used the playground for sports activities and functions,’’ said Basavaraj Halimani, whose son is studying in Class III of the government school.

This ultimately had also contributed to the dwindling numbers of students in the government school over the years — there are only five students now in Class III after many parents withdrew their children and got them admitted in the private school in the same premises. “Some parents had objected to it but to no avail, till some of them tipped the primary and secondary education minister Visveshwar Hegde Kageri recently,’’ said a parent.