Regulate coaching classes, HC tells govt

The Bombay High Court on Thursday gave the government four weeks to frame a regulation policy for coaching classes.

A petition filed by Forum For Fairness In Higher Education, an NGO, in 1998 had alleged that teachers in government colleges across the state were working in private coaching classes to earn extra money.

This had affected the education in government institutions, the PIL had said. Also, the government had no guidelines or a policy to regulate such private coaching centres.

Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, Bhagwanji Rayani told the court that the government had issued an ordinance in October 2000. But it had lapsed as it had not been passed as a legislation.

The ordinance had expressed concern over the indiscriminate increase in the number of coaching classes in the state. It had stressed on the need for a regulation to control the classes.

There were no laws to govern the opening of coaching classes and preventing government institution employees from teaching there.

Following a HC directive, the government appointed a three-member committee in April 2003 to visit private coaching classes and find out if any teacher had violated rules as per a government resolution issued in July 1998 by teaching in private coaching classes.

Assistant government pleader Madhubala Kajle, however, told the court that the government had already acted on 33 complaints received from across the state.

Several penalties such as stopping payment, conducting departmental inquiries and terminating service have been imposed on erring teachers.