Education department accused of harassing private schools over NOC renewal

Nagpur: Unaided private schools in Mumbai have accused the education department of harassing them over renewal of their No Objection Certificates (NOCs). A letter written to the education minister by SC Kedia, president of Unaided Schools Forum, says education officers have been seeking favours in exchange for renewal of NOCs.
Kedia’s letter claims the deputy director of Mumbai has ordered education officers to call a meeting of all schools, at which they have been given an ultimatum to renew NOCs or face cancellation of recognition. Schools have been told to submit an undertaking by April 17 to renew their NOCs.
However, Kedia’s letter argues the renewal process is illegal. It cites a government resolution dated August 7, 2009, that stipulates that NOCs should be renewed every three years. A writ petition filed by the federation in 2010 challenged this resolution, and the Bombay high court stayed its operation. The letter claims the education department has subsequently issued two illegal government resolutions regarding NOC renewal in 2020, despite the court stay.
Kedia said the matter is sub judice since their organization has filed another writ petition in 2021.