The Bombay High Court was informed on Tuesday that the Maharashtra state government plans to table a bill aimed at regulating private coaching classes during the upcoming monsoon session of the state assembly. The announcement came during a hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Makarand Karnik.
The court was hearing a plea from Bhagwanji Raiyani, a city resident who has been advocating for the enforcement of previous court orders regarding the regulation of coaching classes. Raiyani expressed concerns about the lack of a comprehensive statewide policy despite earlier interventions by the court, including the appointment of an expert committee and the issuance of an ordinance.
“Regular teachers employed in aided schools, government schools, and colleges are prioritizing coaching classes over their official duties, which impacts the quality of education in our institutions,” Raiyani argued.
The lapsed Maharashtra Ordinance no. XXII of 2000 initially aimed to oversee the operations of coaching centers in the state. However, the absence of subsequent legislation led to its expiration. A government resolution on January 4, 2017, led to the formation of a committee chaired by the director of education to draft legislation to regulate these classes.
Responding to the court’s query about the timeline for implementing a policy, a government lawyer indicated that the bill is slated for presentation in July during the legislative assembly’s monsoon session. This response acknowledged previous court directives and the expiration of the earlier ordinance.
