Government’s strictness on private schools in Punjab: Punjabi language will have to be made compulsory, not optional, if violated, now a fine of up to 2 lakhs

CM Channi presiding over the cabinet meeting.

The state government has increased strictness on private schools in Punjab. In the cabinet meeting held on Sunday, those violating the Punjabi Language Act will now be fined up to Rs 2 lakh. The Punjab government has doubled the fine imposed earlier. This decision is being linked to the controversy after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) removed Punjabi as a compulsory subject from the 10th and 12th examinations.

This amendment has been made in the Punjab Act 2008 related to education in Punjab and other languages. In this, a fine of 25 thousand was imposed for the first time, 50 thousand for the second time and one lakh for the third time. It has now been increased to 50 thousand, one lakh and 2 lakh.

Fines can be increased even further

The Punjab government has also added sub-section 1A to section 8 of the Act. According to this, if the government feels it necessary, then it can increase the amount of fine by issuing a notification. It is clear that if any private school or board has done arbitrariness in the future, then the Punjab government has left open avenues for action.

Controversy arose due to the decision of CBSE

Some time back CBSE had removed Punjabi subject from the compulsory list and made it optional from class 10th and 12th. It was opposed in Punjab. According to the Punjabi Language Act, it is mandatory to make Punjabi a compulsory subject in the schools running in Punjab. Like government schools, private schools will also have to implement this, irrespective of the board they are affiliated to.