The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has ordered the Chandbagh School to vacate the public land it allegedly encroached upon in Bansbari, Kathmandu, within seven days.

Earlier, the city police had visited the school and directed the administration to vacate the premises within two days.

“We went to the school to request that they vacate the public land within two days. But the school asked for more time, and we extended the deadline by five days,” said Rajunath Pandey, chief of the city police.

Bhupdev Shah, a secretary to Mayor Balendra Shah, confirmed that the city police, who had visited the school on Monday, had issued a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the premises.

“If they fail to comply, we will padlock the school,” Bhupdev said.

The Chandbagh School was built on the same property where the government-owned Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory once stood. The land was later transferred to Chaudhary Group’s Champion Shoe Factory and subsequently to the CG Chandbagh School.

The factory was established as a public enterprise with support from the Chinese government in the 1960s. However, in 1992, the factory, which had been operating at a loss for years, was sold to a private company due to the continued losses incurred by the public enterprise.

As the factory was about to close, the 10-ropani plot of land was allegedly transferred illegally to Champion Shoe Factory. The Chaudhary family later built the CG Chandbagh School on the property.

The land is registered under CG Chandbagh Residency Private Limited, whose owners are Arun Chaudhary and his wife, Shila Chaudhary, according to a CIB official.