Coaching centre owners to meet DC Shayin on Wednesday, resolution likely
The controversy in the wake of the UT administration's orders to impose prohibitory orders on the premises of coaching centres in the city during school hours is likely to be resolved on Wednesday, a senior UT official on Tuesday said.
The controversy in the wake of the UT administration's orders to impose prohibitory orders on the premises of coaching centres in the city during school hours is likely to be resolved on Wednesday, a senior UT official on Tuesday said.
"The issue will be resolved after a meeting with the owners of coaching centres and school managements. They are going to meet the deputy commissioner and give their representation following which the issue is expected to be resolved," UT home secretary Anurag Agarwal said.
"We are here to protect the interests of students and we will to solve the matter soon," he added.
The owners of coaching institutes are going to represent their case with DC Mohammed Shayin who had imposed the order by invoking section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (non-assembly of five persons) around coaching centres.
Sources said senior officials have already intervened in the matter and the deputy commissioner is likely to revoke the order on Wednesday.
"Before passing any orders we need to consider what are the guidelines and rules being applied in other states in such matters. We cannot harm children by imposing such orders and hamper their studies when examination time is around the corner," a senior official on condition of anonymity said.
Shayin had issued the order on Februray 13, stating that "owners, managements, teachers of all such institutions/coaching centres/teaching shops/tuition centres have been asked not be operate during school hours fixed by the UT education department, CBSE or ICSE". The period of the ban is 60 days.
The order came into force on February 16, following which coaching centres decided to suspend classes, leaving the students and their parents in the lurch with days to go for the board examinations.
Meanwhile, members of the Chandigarh Educationists' Association (CEA) held a meeting that was attended by 30 representatives of coaching centres at Sector 43 on Tuesday.
"We are not criminals and we will follow the law. We are really worried about students right now. We will meet the DC. Most of the coaching centres run after school hours," said Arvind Goyal, CEA spokesperson.
Students are keeping their fingers crossed as they want the administration to withdraw the decision at the earliest as there is not much time left for examinations.
"I am really hopeful that after so much hue and cry among the students, administration would consider our plea. All the students are not that bright and shinning that self study would solve their purpose and thus they need to get their doubts solved from their respective coaching classes", said Rahat Khanna, class 12th student.
Parents are gearing up to the issue and are looking forward to move to the court in case DC does not take the order back. "It is the matter of our children and thus in case DC would not withdraw his decision, we would definitely go to the court against him. Due to the big coaching centres like Allen and Akash, who take morning batches, everyone should not suffer", claimed Alisha Bhatia, grieved parent.