The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has issued contempt notices to top officials of the School Education Department for failing to act against unauthorised schools operating in the city. The court directed the respondents, including Principal Secretary School Education and Director of Education, to submit their explanations by June 24. A division bench comprising Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Vrushali Joshi passed the order while hearing a contempt petition filed by city resident Sachin Bisen. Bisen had earlier filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 2017 and demanded that authorities take strict action against illegally operating schools in Nagpur. According to records, the Education Officer’s Office had provided Bisen with a list of 54 unauthorised schools on June 29, 2016, followed by an additional list of 31 schools on August 3, 2017, after the PIL was filed.

 

Acting on the PIL, the High Court had, on September 27, 2017, ordered the authorities to verify the legitimacy of these schools and take appropriate action. The matter was then disposed of. However, Bisen alleged that despite repeated follow-ups and applications seeking updates, no action was taken by the authorities. The lack of response led him to file the current contempt petition which led the court to issue latest directive. Adv Seema Verma appeared for the petitioner.