Class in order: Chandigarh turns to Haryana Act to tame unregulated coaching centres
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This step comes about an year after the central government issued guidelines on coaching centres, and is now being followed by a push to give them legal teeth.
The proposal will be sent to the Government of India for approval under Section 87 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, allowing the extension of Haryana's legislation to the Union Territory. Officials said the move will enable a formal legal framework for registration, monitoring, and regulation of coaching centres — something the city has long lacked despite growing pressure from educators, parents, and student groups.
A key feature of the Haryana legislation is the formation of district-level regulatory authorities tasked with overseeing coaching institutes. These authorities are composed of senior officials from multiple departments, including education, police, municipal administration and district administration. Chandigarh's proposed regulatory authority will follow this multi-departmental model but will be adjusted to fit the Union Territory's administrative structure.
The Act grants regulatory authorities civil court-like powers to inspect, inquire and enforce compliance. It defines specific offences and stipulates penalties recoverable as arrears of land revenue, with fines ranging from Rs 25,000 for first violations to Rs 1 lakh for repeat offences. Continued non-compliance may result in cancellation of registration. Further, the Act mandates that coaching institutes employ at least one full-time counsellor to address student mental health and stress-related concerns.
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It also requires the establishment of grievance redressal committees with fixed timeframes for complaint resolution.
"Though the timings and infrastructure facilities at coaching centres are monitored, a proposed extension of the Haryana Act is being sent to the Centre for consideration and approval for regulation of these centres by way of an appropriate legal framework," said director, school education, Chandigarh, Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar.
"Once approved, a formal framework will be in place towards effective regulation of these centres, which is the need of the hour to ensure safety and wellbeing of children.
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While the central guidelines issued in Jan 2024 laid down a broad policy direction — including registration norms, counselling requirements, and anti-exploitation measures — they were advisory in nature. Chandigarh was among the few places where the Centre had designated a nodal officer, with Brar himself appointed to the role.
However, enforcement remained limited due to the lack of a statutory framework.
Officials maintain that the aim of regulation is not to oppose private coaching but to ensure it remains a support system rather than a substitute for formal schooling. While coaching centres may help students prepare for competitive exams, their unchecked growth and rising influence have raised concerns about student well-being, academic imbalance, and the spread of dummy school practices.
By adopting a legal framework, the UT administration hopes to bring clarity, accountability, and safeguards that protect children's education without disrupting their connection to regular schools.
BOX- How Haryana Act goes beyond central guidelines
Unlike the Centre's advisory guidelines, the Haryana Act is a binding law with enforcement powers. It mandates separate registration for each coaching branch, prohibits misleading terms like "recognised," and bars enrolment of students below 16. It clearly defines penalties, which are recoverable as arrears, and grants civil court powers to authorities. It also makes grievance redressal committees and mental health counsellors compulsory, with fixed 30-day timeline for complaint resolution.
These provisions, absent or loosely defined in the guidelines, make the Haryana Act stricter and more enforceable.
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