Minister’s schools among 3,000 issued notices in Haryana

ROHTAK: The Directorate of School Education (DSE), Haryana, has issued show cause notices to around 3,000 private schools in the state for “not correctly disclosing” the seats vacant with them for students belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS) under Rule 134A of the Haryana School Education Rules of 2003.

The list also includes Indus Public Schools in Rohtak, Jind and Kaithal, which is run by a trust owned by Haryana finance minister Captain Abhimanyu and his family.

The Rule 134 A of the Haryana School Education Rules mandates that meritorious children belonging to the EWS category can receive free education in private schools to the extent of 10% seats available with these schools.

Through public notice, the DSE had asked private schools to disclose the number of seats available with them on the MIS (Management Information System) portal of the department to bring transparency into the process.

However, only 2,071 schools out of around 4,800 in state had followed the directions despite extensions granted by the department.

Calling it violation of the rule and wilful thwarting of the objectives of the process by the defaulting schools, the DSE has asked them to send their replies within one week as to why the recognition/NOC granted to them may not be withdrawn for the default/ defiance committed by them.

“If they fail to respond, the orders for withdrawal of their recognition will be passed,” the notice said.

When contacted, principal of Indus Public School in Jind, Aruna Sharma, said, “We were not aware of the directive for uploading details on MIS portal. Our formalities have been completed at the district education office.”

Last year, the schools of BJP leaders, including Abhimanyu, had taken part in a strike against the implementation of Rule 134A by closing the school for some days.