PMC launches inquiry in NMV capitation fee case

After MiD DAY reported that Rs 45.39 lakh had been charged as capitation fee by Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya (NMV), a reputable Marathi medium school in the city, and the government authorities had failed to take action against the school for three years despite the submission in March 2009 of an incriminating inquiry report on the matter, the education board of the PMC finally launched an inquiry and sent two officers to visit the school on Wednesday.

"Yes, we have initiated an inquiry and two officers, the deputy education officer and the assistant education officer, visited NMV primary school on Wednesday," education board head Shivaji Daundkar said.

The November 21 MiD DAY report on the NMV capitation fee issue

The development came against the backdrop of the receipt of a letter by the education board on Monday from state education director (primary) Dr Shridhar Salunke.

In the letter, Salunke had directed the education board to take legal action against the principal and other school officials concerned as the inquiry report submitted in March 2009 by the then ZP officer K D Bhujbal had proved that the school had illegally charged Rs 45.39 lakh from students as capitation fees between the academic years 2007 and 2009.

"We are now taking legal opinion on what should be the course of action against the school," Daundkar said. "By Monday, we will finalise a report and take further action."

Salunke had told MiD DAY that the school was in clear violation of the Prohibition of Capitation Fees Act, 1987, and stringent action would be taken against the NMV officials responsible for it.u00a0