Not pleased with the government’s reply, the court instructed the State to come transparent on its policy a decision on whether it would permit online classes by the private schools.
Hyderabad: A division bench of Telangana High Court on Wednesday instructed the State government to notify the court by Friday about its policy decision concerning the conduct of online classes by private schools.
“Telangana High Court on Wednesday pushed for a ban on online classes in private schools. The suit was filed by the Hyderabad School Students’ Parents Association. The Petitioner’s counsel brought to the court that it was illegal to start classes without starting the academic year,” read a statement by the Hyderabad Schools Parents’ Association.
The bench passed this order through video conferencing in the PIL filed by Hyderabad School Parents Association, represented by its joint secretary K Venkat Sainath, seeking direction to the authorities concerned, to take action against the private schools’ managements for conducting online classes and for collecting the fee in violation of GO 46 issued on April 21, 2020.
It further stated that the counsel described that there was significant injustice to needy students with online classes. ‘Will everybody have the economic burden of buying laptops and smartphones? The High Court asked on this occasion. The advocate for the government has brought the matter to the attention of the District Education Officers (DEOs). The High Court has issued notifications to the state government that the government has not made clear policy on online classes,” it added.
The Court has made observations on the plight of financially deprived students. The government pleader notified of no decision or guidelines issued regarding online classes. The court observed that the petitioner has rightly pointed out the plight of parents having more than one child which has put the additional financial burden and also the children are made to sit with a full uniform for online classes.
The petitioner’s counsel sought strict action against the management of all private schools in Telangana for holding online classes and for collecting term fees, admission fees, developmental charges, library fees, and so on, illegally.
Further, the proceedings assured that no online classes should be conducted and if any online classes are conducted to collect the fees in contravention of government order, parents should inform the concerned District Education Officer and the DEO shall take appropriate legal action on the schools which are violating the order.
The court also noted that it is very pathetic to conduct classes for nursery and lower grade children.
Let the court know whether policy decision has been taken and implemented for the benefit of parents and children, the bench said and issued notices to the respondents to respond on the issue and posted the matter to July 3, for further hearing.