In Haryana, running schools by bypassing the rules and inventing new ways of violating the students’ rights under the Right to Education and harassing their parents for their own financial greed has become a common thing. Apart from this, it is also continuously coming to light that many types of No Objection Certificates (NOC) required for the running of schools, too are not available on a large scale. In this context, recently information was sought in the Assembly as to the number of schools recognized by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)and Board of School Education Haryana (BSEH) in the state which are set up on more than 2 acres of land and what is their district wise details.
The information provided regarding this has revealed that more than 2 thousand schools are running on an area of two acres or more in different districts of Haryana. Of these, about one-fifth percent schools are found being run in disregard of the rules despite not having various types of No Objection Certificates. According to the rules, such schools situated on more than 2 acres of land having no Current Occupation including Certificate/Structural Stability Certificate, Hygiene Certificate/Fire No Objection Certificate are subject to Stern action under the rule-3 of Haryana School Education Rules-2003.
Further official information depicted revealed for the regular operation of schools, various types of certificates are required, including business certificate/structural stability certificate, neat and clean certificate/caver no objection certificate, but according to the official data, Out of more than 2 thousand schools running on 2 acre land or more , as many as 382 schools ;ack fire safety or building safety or occupation certificate or hygiene certificate which is a matter of serious concern. Out of these schools which are being operated by disregarding the rules, a maximum of 188 schools i.e. about 50 percent of the total 382 schools are in Rewari district alone. In terms of schools running without following the rules, Sirsa and Yamunanagar are at second and third place with 57 and 36 schools respectively.
Apart from this, 13 schools in Kurukshetra, 10 in Panipat, 9 in Rohtak, 12 in Sonipat and Panipat, 6 each, and 5 in Mahendragarh lack No Objection Certificate in aforementioned categories. Apart from this, 8 schools in Faridabad and Karnal, 4 each, 3 in Kaithal, 4 in Nuh and Charkhi Dadri, 2 each, and 2 in Fatehabad and Jhajjar, 1 each do not have necessary NOC’s.
Information received from the department has revealed that if any person or association of persons or firm or society or trust or company wishes to establish or upgrade a school in the state of Haryana, or to further run an already running school. They will do so with the prior approval and permission of the Director. The school authority shall follow the standards specified in these rules which includes that no school in the State can function, establish or start classes without the prior approval or permission of the Director. Every school established by any individual or association of individuals or firm or society or trust or company, shall follow the norms specified under these rules.
Any act or disobedience on the part of the school managing committee contrary to the provisions of these rules shall make it liable, Besides, any individual or association of individuals or firm or society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or trust created under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882), or company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), desiring to establish school or upgrade or continue to function in the State as a school, shall do so with prior approval or permission of the Director. The school authority shall follow the norms specified under these rules.
The also states that concerned school is to be prosecuted under the relevant law if such disobedience or act causes or tends to cause danger to the life, health, and safety of the students; Apart from aforesaid, the imposition of the penalty is also applicable to those schools breaching the norms and there is provision of imposition of penalty not exceeding Rs. 15000 in the case of primary schools, Rs. 20,000 in the case of middle schools and Rs. 25,000 in the case of secondary and senior secondary school for each such violation. Before taking any such action under sub-rule (1), a fifteen days’ notice shall be given to the managing. committee to explain their position regarding the aforesaid notice. On receipt of reply and after giving a personal hearing, if required, Director shall be competent to take any of the action against the managing committee under these rules.
Details of the schools set up on 2 acre lands with out NOC’s