LAHORE: The Punjab education department on Tuesday told the Lahore High Court that show-cause notices had been issued to 77 private schools for collecting three-month summer vacation fee in advance from students.

When asked about further action against the violators, EDO (Education) Pervez Akhtar told the court that buildings could be sealed, besides cancellation of registration, if the schools failed to respond the notices in a satisfactory manner.

He said the media advertisements created awareness among parents about the directive against collection of summer vacation fee in advance.

He said the department received such complaints against 77 schools so far.

An additional advocate general told the court that the draft of `Punjab Education Bill` was being finalised. He said the bill would be presented before the provincial cabinet soon for approval.The court adjourned hearing till June 17 and directed the EDO to apprise it of the progress in the action against the schools violating the government`s instructions.

Advocate Sheeba Qaisar had filed a petition complaining that private schools were violating the government direction and asking the parents to submit fee for the three months of summer vacationin advance,besides other charges.

BLACK WARRANTS: The district and sessions judge on Tuesday issued black warrants of a convict in a murder case for June 16.

Kot Lakhpat Jail superintendenthadsoughttheblack warrants of Mukhtar Ahmad through an application filed before the judge.

He stated that all appeals of the convict against the death penalty had been dismissed by the courts of law and his mercy plea had also been rejected by the president.

The trial court had awarded death sentence to Mukhtar Ahmad on charges of killing Abdul Razzaq in 2004. Lytton Road police had registered the case.