HYDERABAD, MAY 06, 2025: A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Telangana High Court seeking directions to the private intermediate colleges not to conduct classes, physical or virtual, during the holidays declared in the annual academic calendar issued by the state board of intermediate education (TSBIE).
The petitioner, Bandela Kranthi Kumar, a practising advocate and public-spirited person, has sought directions from the High Court to prevent the private intermediate colleges from conducting classes illegally during Sundays, public holidays and summer vacations. The PIL is likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday, subject to the consideration of the vacation court, said the petitioner’s counsel CR Sukumar.
According to the petitioner, the intermediate board has through an academic calendar stipulated holidays to ensure holistic growth of students, preserve their mental health and allow them to rejuvenate between rigorous academic sessions.
Excessive academic sessions without mandated breaks lead to enormous stress, mental health ailments, burnouts, anxiety, depression and even suicidal tendencies amongst students, the petitioner submitted to the Court, citing various studies including those conducted by the authorities in the past.
The authorities, who are duty-bound to strictly supervise the functioning of private intermediate colleges by regular inspections, have remained mute spectators and were given a free hand to private colleges to exploit students, the petitioner submitted to the court.
The petitioner’s counsel CR Sukumar, submitted that he is going to make a mention before the High Court seeking urgent hearing of the matter on Wednesday and hopes that the court will intervene to pass appropriate orders in the interest of students.
The PIL has urged the court to direct the respondents to establish a grievance redressal mechanism, which includes a confidential helpline and online complaint portal, for students to bring the violations to the notice of the authorities for taking prompt action.
The petitioner submitted that the private intermediate colleges were prematurely offering admissions to students who have recently completed their 10th class, even beforethe declaration of their results, without any breathing time and forcing them to attend classes during summer holidays.
The petitioner, who has been advocating for the holistic growth and better future of the students, claims to have received numerous requests from the students on the gross violations by the private intermediate colleges across Telangana.
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