Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday warned private schools of strict action if they force students and parents to buy uniforms, books and stationery from specific vendors. Her warning comes after the Directorate of Education (DoE) asked schools not to force students or parents to buy books, writing materials or uniforms from specific vendors.
Gupta said she can go to any private school in Delhi at any time to check whether the schools have clearly mentioned on notice boards, websites and in any shop they run that parents are free to buy uniforms, books and stationery from anywhere.
“I can personally inspect any private school in Delhi. In the notice board, website or shop of every school, where they are offering books, you must state in writing that parents can buy uniforms, books or stationery for their children from anywhere. There is no compulsion to buy them from the school itself or from one vendor you recommend. There will be no compulsion on any parent to buy books only from the vendor you recommend,” the Delhi CM said in a video posted on X of the CMO handle.
She also added that if any discrepancy is found, the school will face the strictest action and may be seized.
“There will be no coercion, no captive buying, no diktat from a single vendor. If the school wants to suggest store options for convenience, it may provide a written list of five to six stores, but there will be no coercion of any kind,” Gupta further said.
According to the government, taking into account complaints of abusive practices, the recent joint action taken by the Ministry of Education and the Department of Revenue revealed serious irregularities in a private school.
“During a two-day surprise inspection, it was found that the school was operating without a valid fire safety certificate. In addition, the swimming pool in the building was also without a licence, and it was closed with immediate effect. The investigation revealed several other violations in the school as well,” officials said.
(With inputs from PTI)
