KL Report
SRINAGAR
The Court Tuesday sought a response from the Advocate General on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Social Rights Activist Muhammad Ahsan Untoo on mushrooming of “unregistered” private coaching centres, their unbridled exploitation vis-à-vis illegal profiteering, exorbitant fee structure, jam packed classes, pathetic infrastructure, improper timings, immorality etc.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Athar Hussain and Justice Bhansi Lal issued a notice, sought not only response from the Advocate General but also issued notice to Private Coaching Centres Union to clear their position on the allegations leveled in PIL.
The petitioner in its PIL through his counsel Advocate Mir Majid prayed that a writ should be issued, directing respondents to forthwith close down all illegal and unregistered Private Tuition Centres across Kashmir Valley.
The PIL also seeks the issuance of writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus, directing the respondents to forthwith cancel registration of Private Tuition Centres, who do not conform to the rules in vague, particularly, display and notify monthly tuition fee or charge exorbitant tuition fee, maintain prescribed teacher student ratio, vis-à-vis jam packed classes where students are crouched like animals irrespective of gender, male or female, ensure basic infrastructure and other physical facilities, like adequate heating or cooling arrangements, separate wash rooms, drinking water facility, congestion free area, comfortable seating arrangement and provide minimum covered area or space of 9 square feet per candidate in the tuition centres.
The petitioner also through his counsel prayed that a writ, order or direction should be issued, directing the respondents to ensure adequate security and curb morality in and around coaching centres and install CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas and regularly keep close vigil against unscrupulous elements and anti social behavior, like eve teasing in and around tuition centres.
The petitioner also through his counsel prayed that a writ, order or direction should be issued, directing the respondents to ensure that none of the private tuition centres keep odd timings, in particular for female students and also a separate timings should be made for male and female coaching centres by all registered tuition centres.
The court will pass its directions on the PIL on December 30.
