Play school guidelines: HC asks govt to seek management view

The Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu government to invite opinion from managements of play schools before drafting the final guidelines for running the institutions.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam gave the direction to the Principal Secretary to Education Department on a miscellaneous petition by a city-based play school, seeking a direction to the department to frame guidelines on the requirements for play schools and pre-schools to get approval.
The government after due consideration of the views of these play school managements, should publish the final guidelines by July 22, the bench said.

The court had on April six adjourned the case for today as sought by the government pleader, who submitted that the Draft Code for Pre-Nursery and Nursery and Primary Schools was under active consideration of the government.
The matter related to a PIL which sought closure of about 760 play schools in the state for allegedly functioning without affiliation or approval by the government.
The PIL filed by city-based advocate R Balasubramnian contended that apart from running the schools without any authority, the managements were collecting "exorbitant" fee and complaints in this regard were pending before the Education Secretary.
He also submitted the schools did not meet requirements such as fire safety measures.