BJD to stage protest near Raj Bhavan on May 21
Addressing the media, party leaders Arun Sahoo, Sanjay Das Burma, Pratap Jena and Pradeep Majhi said 11.25 per cent reservation announced by the state government in non-technical and general educational institutions will not help the SEBC students as a large number of seats in colleges are remaining vacant.
'The government has cheated the SEBCs by announcing reservation for vacant seats and describing it as a historic decision,' they said.
Senior party leader Ranendra Pratap Swain also held a separate media conference and voiced his opposition.
The leaders said that the party had raised the demand for 27 per cent reservation for SEBCs through an adjournment in the February-March budget session of the Assembly.
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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Delhi govt set to table draft Bill to regulate school fee. Here's why parents groups oppose it
Amid criticism from parents and Opposition, the Delhi government is set to table the draft Bill to regulate fees in private schools in the Assembly as the Monsoon Session starts August 4. The Bill, however, has drawn criticism from parents and activists, who say the proposed framework lacks transparency and gives disproportionate control to school managements. The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, has been circulated to members of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, with copies in Hindi and English versions, according to the Legislative Assembly Secretariat's circular dated August 1. 'The Delhi government will table the Bill to regulate fee hike by private schools, in the Monsoon session of Assembly beginning from August 4,' Chief Minister Rekha Gupta told reporters on Saturday. The 13-page Bill outlines a new system to govern how private schools in the National Capital Territory fix and revise fees. The stated aim is to prevent profiteering in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. Violations by schools such as charging unapproved fees could attract penalties ranging from Rs 1 to 10 lakh, with provisions for refund of excess fees within 20 working days. The Bill also prohibits coercive practices like striking names off rolls or withholding exam results over non-payment. Every such violation carries a Rs 50,000 penalty per student. Every private unaided school, the Bill mandates, must form a School Level Fee Regulation Committee each year by July 15. This committee is to include the school principal, a nominee of the school management, three teachers and five parents drawn by lottery from the Parent-Teacher Association, and a nominee from the Directorate of Education. The school management will propose a fee structure for a block of three academic years, which the committee must review and approve by September 15. If the committee fails to decide the fees within the timeline, the matter is referred to a District Fee Appellate Committee, which includes education officials, a chartered accountant, two school representatives, and two parent members. Further appeals may be taken to a Revision Committee constituted by the government A key concern among parents is the provision that only a group comprising at least 15% of total parents in the affected class or school may file an appeal before the District Fee Appellate Committee. This Clause, defined under Section 2 of the Bill, raises the threshold for raising grievances and has been widely criticised. Groups such as the Forum for Indian Parents have also said that the Bill allows schools to dominate the regulatory process by controlling the selection of committee members and framing fee components with minimal oversight. It also raised concerns about the absence of provisions for audits, the selection of parent and teacher members through internal processes, and the broad language of Section 8 that allows inclusion of all forms of surplus and capital expenditure, including litigation costs and penalties, as fee components. 'The BJP-led Delhi government has colluded with private schools, effectively handcuffing Delhi's parents through the 15% clause,' alleged Mahesh Mishra, a parent at DPS Dwarka and a member of a Delhi-based parents' group. 'There is no provision for Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audits, which is essential for financial accountability.' The Bill outlines a broad set of heads under Section 8 that schools can factor into their fee proposals, including infrastructure, staff salaries, 'reasonable revenue surplus', and 'capital expenditure'. Critics have argued that this opens the door for schools to include luxury expenses and litigation costs as part of the fee burden on parents. The Forum added that the Bill weakens existing provisions requiring prior approval from the DoE for fee changes in schools situated on government land. Under the proposed system, approval rests with school-level committees, which they argue can be influenced by the management. 'This Bill is not just anti-parent,' Mishra said, 'it's a direct attack on the middle class and will make quality education even more inaccessible.' Lawyer and child rights activist Ashok Agarwal echoed similar concerns. 'The Bill is totally confusing and unworkable. So many layers of committees means no end to controversies and litigations,' he posted on X. Ahead of the start of the Monsoon session, AAP Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj has also slammed the Bill as a 'bonanza for private schools' and a 'direct assault on parents,' alleging that it empowers school managements while silencing dissent. 'When even one parent could earlier raise concerns, why create a threshold of 450 parents in a school of 3,000?' Bharadwaj asked, while flagging the removal of the audit provision, despite earlier government claims of auditing private schools. The Monsoon Session will be the third session of the Delhi Assembly under the Rekha Gupta-led government.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Veteran Malayalam literary critic M K Sanu dies at 98
Kochi, Aug 2 (PTI) Eminent Malayalam literary critic, academic, writer, orator, and former legislator M K Sanu passed away at a private hospital here on Saturday following a brief illness, family sources said. He was 98. Sanu had been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit for the past few days after his health deteriorated, they said. Popularly known as 'Sanu Mash" in Kerala's cultural circles, he was a revered teacher, mentor, and guide to generations of students. Born in Thumpoly in the coastal Alappuzha district, Sanu was a first-rank holder in his postgraduate Malayalam studies. He began his career as a schoolteacher and later served as a faculty member in several prestigious colleges in the state. His literary journey began with the publication of his first book, 'Anchu Shastra Nayakanmar' in 1958. He became a prominent voice in Malayalam literary criticism with his first work in the genre, published in 1960. Sanu also made significant contributions to biographical literature. Over his decades-long writing career, he authored more than 40 books, noted for their poetic language and intellectual depth. He received several prestigious honours, including the Kerala and Central Sahitya Akademi Awards, the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, and the Vayalar Award. Sanu's writing was deeply influenced by Leftist ideologies and the teachings of saint and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, who propagated the message of 'one caste, one religion, one God for mankind." His autobiography, 'Karmagathi', remains a favourite among Malayalam literary readers. In 1987, Sanu contested the Assembly election from the Ernakulam constituency as a Left-backed independent candidate. However, he did not pursue an active political career and later distanced himself from electoral politics. He also served in various capacities, including as chairman of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Sanu is survived by his wife and children. Condolences poured in from various quarters, including Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, and General Education Minister V Sivankutty. 'Saddened by the demise of Prof M K Sanu, a towering figure in Malayalam literature and public life. Through his writings, teachings, and public engagements, he inspired generations and left an indelible mark on Kerala's cultural landscape. May his soul attain mukti," Arlekar said in his condolence message. PTI LGK SSK view comments First Published: August 02, 2025, 19:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Delhi govt to table bill to regulate private school fee hikes in monsoon session: CM Rekha Gupta
The Delhi government will introduce a bill to regulate fee hikes by private schools in the upcoming Monsoon Session , Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday. According to the Cabinet-approved ordinance, passed on April 29, the bill imposes strict penalties on schools that hike fees arbitrarily. For a first offence, schools will face fines ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, with repeat violations attracting penalties between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. If the school fails to refund within the specified time, the fine doubles after 20 days, triples after 40 days, and continues to increase with every 20-day delay. Repeated violations may lead to a ban on holding official positions in the school management and loss of the right to propose future fee revisions. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence healthcare MBA Digital Marketing Degree Public Policy CXO PGDM Operations Management Project Management Healthcare Others Design Thinking Finance Data Science Technology Product Management Data Science Cybersecurity MCA Leadership others Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Addressing the media, Gupta said, "Delhi govt will table the education bill to regulate fee hike by private schools, in the Monsoon session of Assembly beginning from August 4." Highlighting other policy steps, she announced that the Delhi Legislative Assembly will now operate as a paperless e-Vidhan Sabha . "It is a matter of happiness that the Delhi Legislative Assembly will now be paperless. We have also developed the assembly as a model Legislative Assembly, as it is completely dependent on solar power now," she said. Live Events The chief minister added that efforts are also underway to make the Delhi Secretariat paperless, as part of the government's broader digital and sustainable governance agenda. "We are taking policy decisions to make Delhi developed," she said. The Monsoon Session will be the third session of the Delhi Assembly under the Rekha Gupta-led government.
