Jharkhand Education Tribunal

Justice for education & a better future : Er.Alok Kumar took Interview

Jharkhand Education Tribunal Chairman L.P.N. Shahdeo spoke our Correspondent Er.Alok Kumar


From a munsif at a district court to the chairman of a state’s education tribunal — the journey of Justice L.P.N. Shahdeo apparently has no end.Justice Shahdeo — who retired as judge from Patna High Court in 1993 — has been shouldering the responsibility of the Jharkhand Education Tribunal (JET) since its inception in August last year.As the chairman of the tribunal, the septuagenarian judge — who joined the profession as a munsif in Hazaribagh after clearing the first public service examination in 1958 — has passed several orders for the betterment of educational institutions across the state.

In a tête-à-tête with Er.Alok Kumar,Justice Shahdeo discussed the tribunal’s objectives and future plans.

What are the objectives of the Jharkhand Education Tribunal (JET)?

JET has been formed for regulating the functions of all educational institutions, including private and government schools, in the state. The basic objective being constituting the tribunal is to ensure that none of the teachers nor students studying in a particular educational institution is harassed and exploited by the management of the educational institutions. Our concern is also to monitor that these institutions do not turn into profit-making institutions and there should not be any commercialisation of education. Education cannot be treated as a business.

What are the guidelines for schools to follow to avoid cases in JET?

JET is not against the management and administration running the different schools in Ranchi and in the state. The state capital is known to be a hub of some of the very best educational institutions in the eastern region. The tribunal has from time to time given directions to schools and educational institutions to run their establishments as per proper norms and rules. By way of judgments, orders and observations, the tribunal has cited guidelines for institutions to follow. Overloading in buses was first questioned by JET. We have also ensured that no library fees and computer fees are charged from students between Class I and Class IV in all schools. Such children do not avail the facilities and their wards should not be coerced into paying extra fees. The fee structure should be such that parents do not feel pressurised to pay for the education of their children.


What has JET done to ensure that the guidelines framed by it are followed by the institutions?

The tribunal has formed committees to look into complaints and monitor institutions to see to it that everything is done by the book. All district magistrates have been empowered by the tribunal to check schools and other institutions for any sort of irregularity that is being carried out. The Ranchi deputy commissioner has been made the chairperson of a committee in which different school principals are members. The objective of the committee is to see to it that there is no exploitation or discrimination among students or teachers and to also ensure that there are no irregularities whatsoever. The committee holds its meetings at regular intervals and the minutes of the meeting are forwarded to the tribunal for its appreciation and comments.

Are you satisfied with the present location of the tribunal and the manpower provided by the government?

The JET has an important duty to shoulder. It is responsible for the education of children who are the future of the country. To function from a small and congested building is pathetic. The courtroom is also very small and hardly 10 persons can sit comfortably. There is also a shortage of hands in the office for which work is delayed and the existing staff are over pressed with their daily engagements. We are trying to do all that we can to resolve the situation and see to it that JET is given a better place to function along with adequate manpower to run things smoothly.

How many complaints have been made to the tribunal and what is the disposal rate?

The tribunal was formed in August 19 last year and it is close to one year now. In these months, it has registered a total of 58 cases apart from miscellaneous and contempt cases. The tribunal has performed exceptionally well in its short span so far. As many as 11 cases have been disposed by the tribunal. We expect to increase the disposal rate of cases considerably in the days to come.

The tribunal had directed schools/colleges to make payment of teachers in cheques and not in cash which is not being done.

What is JET doing to implement its order?

JET is aware of the malpractice carried out in some of the Private Technical Colleges. Despite our orders teachers are not being paid their salaries in cheques. Whereas it has also come to our notice that some Orivate Engineering Colleges have started giving salary in cheque but deduct a lump sum forcefully for which there is no proof. However, we have not received any formal complaint so far and are helpless in this. We will take strict action against the offenders if the matter is brought to the knowledge of JET.

( Er.Alok thanks to the article of ARCHIVES, 1st March,1999 THE TELEGRAPH )