Bill To Regulate Coaching Centres Likely To Be Tabled Before State Assembly In Monsoon Session: Maharashtra Govt Tells Bombay High Court

The PIL filed in 1999 raised grievances that various private coaching centres were being run in the State without any regulatory mechanism. The petitioner argued that the coaching centres lacked even basic facilities.

The petitioner also argued that teachers employed in government service usually teach at these coaching centres, giving more time and attention to students attending the coaching classes at the cost of their duties in the school.

An ordinance was introduced in the year 2000 to regulate the conduct of the coaching classes, however, no law was made in furtherance of the ordinance and it lapsed.

Today during the hearing, the State counsel told the Court that the State has prepared a draft bill which would be introduced in the State legislative assembly in July during the monsoon session.

The State counsel further referred to the guidelines issued by the Union of India on 16 January 2024 for private coaching centres. The Centre had asked the State governments and Union Territories to frame an appropriate legal framework to regulate coaching institutions.

The State counsel submitted that the State government has directed the Commissioner of Education to undertake the study of guidelines issued by the Centre and submit a proposal on the issue to the government.

A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe & Justice MS Karnik took note of the submissions made by the State counsel and posted the matter for 28 July.

Case title: Forum For Fairness In Education And Ors vs. State Of Maharashtra And Ors (WP/2871/1999)