Pvt schools: Punjab didn't get HC order right

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab education department has made a complete fool of itself by misinterpreting the Punjab and Haryana High Court order on private schools running in residential areas in the state. Acting on the order, it went ahead and issued notices of closure to about 17,000 schools.
As no such order existed, the state government is now likely to withdraw its notification to shut the schools.When contacted, Punjab advocate general, R S Cheema told Times Of Chandigarh, "In fact, the Punjab government's order to close (private) schools was not in compliance with the High Court order."
The Private Schools Association had always maintained that the High Court order was misinterpreted. The orders passed in March end could have affected over seven lakh students in various cities and villages.
It had created panic among owners of private schools and had students and their wards worried sick. The pathetic state of government schools in the state is an open secret.
The education department seemed to have planned to gain out of the move. The director public instructions, schools, had instructed heads of government schools not to ask students coming from private schools for a school-leaving certificate to simplify the procedure.
Officials had warned the management of private schools of legal action if they admitted students in the new academic session beginning April 1.
After the Private Schools Association had raised their voice against the order, the education department officials sought legal opinion.