Srinagar, Feb 05: The High Court on Tuesday “reprieved” the Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) institutes closed and sealed after registration of a case alleging large-scale foul play by them in collaboration with J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE).
The court asked the institutes to approach the competent authority for grant of recognition and affiliation.
The court closed the public interest litigation instituted in 2011 in respect of the indiscriminate malpractices in running the ETT institutes and the related educational matters in the state.
“The ETT institutions which were closed as a consequence of registration of case and subsequently sealed in terms of orders of this court, shall approach the competent authority for grant of recognition/affiliation in tune with the mandate of the requirements in terms of applicable rules,” ordered a division bench of the court.
The bench ordered the State government to guarantee adherence to the amended rules notified through SRO 202 dated 2nd July 2018, in its letter and spirit.
It directed the Crime Branch to complete its investigation in respect of case FIR No. 36/2013 dated 07.11.2013 and file final report within a period of two months before the competent court of law,
The court has asked the competent authority to consider the cases of existing ETT institutes and ensure their inspection and meeting the requirements in terms of amended rules before grant of recognition or affiliation.
“The competent authority shall also ensure that the institutes which do not meet the requirements in terms of the applicable rules, shall be closed,” ordered the court.
In the event the institutions meet the required requirements, the competent authority shall take appropriate action for de-sealing the said institutions, it added.
In respect of administrative actions against the erring officers and officials of the State government as result of the court orders, the bench ordered taking the actions to their logical conclusion.
The petitioners had prayed constituting a team of lawyers, journalists and educationists and parent activists to monitor, supervise and report the status and position of investigations and allegations of corruption in JKBOSE and recommend corrective measures to improve its functioning.
They also sought imposition of a total ban on the recognition, affiliations of all the ETT colleges till the inquiries about their malpractices are concluded under the orders of the court.
After the judicial intervention, the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Rules, 2010 were amended in terms of SRO 292 dated 2nd of July, 2018 which paved way for monitoring and transparency in running the ETT institutes.
