SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, August 29: In a landmark move, the Jharkhand Assembly has passed the Jharkhand Coaching Centre (Control and Regulation) Act, 2025. The legislation promises to rein in the state’s mushrooming coaching industry, which has so far thrived with little oversight. It introduces strict registration norms, safety measures, student protections, and accountability mechanisms—ensuring that coaching centres no longer function as unregulated businesses but as institutions bound by law.
Why This Act Was Needed
Jharkhand, like many states, has witnessed a rapid growth of private coaching centres, often operating without proper facilities, fee transparency, or qualified tutors. While these centres play a major role in preparing students for board exams and competitive tests, many have been accused of exploiting students with high fees, unsafe infrastructure, and stressful environments.
The new Act is designed to put a leash on these practices, while also giving students and parents a platform to seek justice.
Strict Registration Rules
From now on, any coaching centre teaching more than 50 students at school, college, or university level must be registered under the Act.
- Who can apply? Individuals, groups, registered trusts, societies, companies, or LLPs.
- Separate registration: Each branch of a coaching chain, whether within or outside a district, will be treated as a separate entity.
- Franchise model: Both the franchisor and franchisee will be equally responsible for compliance.
Registrations will be valid for five years, with renewal applications required six months before expiry.
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Infrastructure and Safety Standards
To receive approval, coaching centres must meet stringent infrastructure norms:
- Space: At least one square metre of classroom space per student.
- Building safety: Compliance with the National Building Code (2016), Jharkhand Building Bylaws (2016), and disability-friendly standards.
- Fire clearance: A valid Fire and Building Safety Certificate is mandatory.
This is expected to end the practice of overcrowded classrooms in unsafe, makeshift buildings.
Protecting Students’ Interests
The Act gives priority to student welfare:
- Qualified Tutors: All tutors must be graduates and free from criminal convictions.
- Mental Health Support: At least one certified counsellor must be engaged for every 1,000 students.
- Student Portal: Every student enrolling in a coaching centre must register on a government portal, making the system more transparent.
- Parental Consent: Students below 16 or those without a secondary exam certificate cannot enroll without written parental permission.
- Fee Policies: Coaching centres must declare their fee, refund, and transfer policies upfront.
- Closure Policy: Centres must inform students three months in advance if they plan to close, and ensure fee refunds as per their declared policy.
Complaint Redressal Mechanism
Students, parents, and tutors will now have a place to voice complaints:
- District Committees will investigate complaints and must resolve them within 90 days.
- State Authority will act as an appellate body, resolving appeals within 120 days.
- Judicial Oversight: The State Authority will be headed by a retired judge and senior retired officers, ensuring fairness and independence.
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Heavy Penalties for Violations
The Act introduces a graded penalty system:
- Up to ₹5 lakh for the first offence.
- Up to ₹10 lakh for the second offence.
- Cancellation of registration for repeated violations, with the possibility of blacklisting.
If violations occur in a franchise arrangement, both the franchisor and franchisee will be held equally liable.
Exemptions for Educational Institutions
The Act exempts regular schools, colleges, and universities that conduct remedial classes or coaching within their premises. Government-run coaching schemes at the state or central level are also exempt.
A Step Towards Accountability
By bringing coaching centres under a clear regulatory framework, the Act promises to:
- Protect students from exploitation.
- Improve safety and learning conditions.
- Ensure transparency in fees and policies.
- Provide mental health support in an otherwise stressful academic environment.
For the first time, students and parents in Jharkhand will have the legal backing to hold coaching centres accountable—making education not just a business, but a regulated service bound by responsibility.
