Srinagar, Sep 26 (KNO): School Education Department has decided to grant one time provisional affiliation, as a one time exemption to all those private schools who had failed to submit No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the revenue department with regard to functioning of the institute on ‘state land.’
The department also said that the decision was taken as the matter has been taken up by JKBOSE with both the Directors of School Education of Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir divisions, 'but nothing substantial to resolve the issue seems to have happened so far.'
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), School Education Department in a circular said, "By virtue of SO 177, Section 2B was added to the J&K School Education Rules 2010, mandating that the applications for grant of affiliation and recognition shall be accompanied by a no-objection certificate regarding land use issued by the revenue department."
"Various school managements in the J&K failed to furnish the requisite NOC from Revenue Department and thereby extension affiliation and recognition in respect of these schools could not be granted," it reads.
It also said that with a view to protect the academic interest of students enrolled in these schools, tagging with the nearby government schools was implemented as a provisional measure.
In the meanwhile many such schools located on Kahcharaie, State and Shamilat land filed writ petitions in the High court of Jammu and Kashmir, challenging provisions of SO 177.
School Education Department said that the matter was taken up by JKBOSE with both the Directors of School Education. "But nothing substantial to resolve the issue seems to have happened so far."
"It is necessitated in the circumstances to take effective steps to safeguard the academic session of the numerous students enrolled in the institutions without valid affiliation and also obviate the possibility of tagging of schools becoming an annual exercise, precedent by JKBOSE, till a conclusive decision in the matter is arrived at by the proposed Committee to be constituted by General Administration Department," it reads.
The department said, "Therefore, it is hereby notified for the information of all stakeholders that JKBOSE shall grant Provisional affiliation, as a one time exemption, to all such schools which are without a valid affiliation, both for the earlier academic session 2023-24 (when they were tagged with the nearby government school) and current academic session 2024-25, for nonconformity to provisions of SO 177."
"Further, JKBOSE shall extend all board related facilities including Registration Return (RR) forms, eligibility, migration and examination to such schools for sessions 2023-24 and 2024-25 , for classes 9th to 12th," SED said.
It further clarified that this exemption and provisional affiliation is subject to the decision of the Proposed Committee to be constituted by the General Administration Department, as directed by the High Court and may be rescinded if the committee an-ives at a contrary decision—(KNO)