Judge Noorin Badaruddin granted leave today to applicant Lady Superior of the Society of Saint Maur, which operates the school, after M Kogilambigai from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, who appeared for the federal territories’ land and mines director, did not object to the bid.

The school’s lawyer, Damien Chan, said the judge also granted the school time to file an amendment to substitute the name of the FT land and mines director with “FT land executive committee” as respondent in the judicial review application.

He told FMT that the court will hear the stay of proceedings against the government’s decision on May 4.

Established in 1899, all-girls school CBN is one of Malaysia’s oldest schools.

Lead counsel Gopal Sri Ram appeared for CBN with Chan, together with lawyers Yasmeen Soh, Ian Hannibal and William Lee.

The school filed a legal challenge against the government’s decision not to renew the lease for the land in Jalan Bukit Nanas where the school is situated after the government conveyed its decision through a letter on Dec 18, 2020.

The school seeks to quash the decision, as well as get an order to compel the land office to revoke the letter of non-renewal.

The school claims the government’s decision not to renew the lease violates the fundamental liberty of a person and their right to education.