Why to punish students?

There is nothing wrong in taking stern action against the people involved in any wrongful or illegal act, but punishing others for the fault of somebody else doesn’t make any sense at all. Similarly, the reports suggest that the Board of School Education in Jammu & Kashmir has refused to accept the forms of the students enrolled in the private schools established on state land. Pertinently, J&K government in 2022 amended the rules under the Education Act 2002 to provide for fresh guidelines relating to use of land and building structures by private schools in UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The amendments were made by the J&K Lieutenant Governor (LG) in the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Rules, 2010 in exercise of the powers conferred by section 29 of the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act, 2002. In wake of this, the J&K government ordered that all those private schools which are established on the state land should close the schooling of the enrolled children with immediate effect. The schools were asked to issue the school leaving certificates in favour of their respective students so that they will be accommodated in nearby Government schools “subject to the consent of their parents in this regard.” However, the Private school proprietors collectively approached the judiciary and sought relief from the J&K High Court, securing a stay on the government’s order. Nonetheless, the decision to refuse the forms at this point of time is certainly jeopardizing the future of thousands of students enrolled in these schools. Therefore, the administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha should intervene into the matter and ensure that the future of students is not put at stake and the forms of these students are accepted on priority.