Allahabad High Court seeks responses from CBSE and UP government on coaching institutes operating within school and college premises. Deadline of ten days set. Case emphasizes adherence to regulations and maintaining educational integrity. Next hearing on August 14.
The Allahabad High Court recently sought responses from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the pressing issue of coaching institutes operating within the premises of schools and colleges across the State. This issue was brought to the court’s attention in the case of Manish Kumar Mishra v. State, where a Bench of Justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Prashant Kumar called for the authorities to file their responses within ten days of passing the order.
The court expressed its concern about the prevalence of coaching centers within educational institutions and emphasized the significance of addressing this menace effectively. To that end, the court directed the Secretary of the relevant Department and the Secretary of CBSE, New Delhi, to submit a comprehensive account of the steps being taken to control and regulate such coaching centers throughout the state.
The plea was filed by Manish Kumar Mishra, who is a member of the ‘Janki Trust’, an organization running an academic institution affiliated with CBSE. Mishra sought the court’s intervention to ensure the strict adherence to the Uttar Pradesh Coaching Regulation Act, 2002, and a CBSE circular issued in August 2019.
According to Mishra, his CBSE-affiliated school was surrounded by other CBSE-affiliated institutions that were running coaching centers within the school and college premises. He contended that this practice was in violation of both the CBSE policy and the provisions of the 2002 Act, which were put in place to maintain the integrity and quality of education.
The petitioner claimed that he had made numerous representations to the concerned authorities, highlighting the issue, but to his dismay, no action was taken in response. Frustrated by the lack of action, he approached the court seeking judicial intervention to remedy the situation.
Advocate Surendra Kumar Chaubey and Arvind Kumar Mishra represented the petitioner, while Advocate Hridai Narain Pandey appeared on behalf of the State government.
Taking cognizance of the seriousness of the matter, the Allahabad High Court set a deadline of ten days for the respondent authorities to file their reply. The court scheduled the next hearing for August 14, intending to review the responses and assess the measures being undertaken to address the challenges posed by coaching centers operating within educational institutions.
The court’s decision to seek responses from both the Uttar Pradesh government and CBSE demonstrates the gravity of the issue and the court’s commitment to safeguarding the educational environment and maintaining the integrity of educational institutions. The court’s action is likely to pave the way for effective measures and regulations to curb the proliferation of coaching centers within school and college premises, thereby ensuring a conducive and focused learning environment for students.
