The Chhattisgarh education department has taken strict action against alleged forced sale practices by a private school in Bilaspur after a uniform and book shop operating near the campus was sealed during an inspection drive.

The action came after parents complained that they were being compelled to purchase school uniforms, books and study material only from a designated shop linked to the school management. Following the complaint, the district administration ordered an immediate inquiry into the matter. Officials from the education department conducted a surprise inspection on Friday and sealed the shop after allegedly finding school-tagged uniforms and books during the raid.

Parents Raise Complaints

According to officials, several parents approached the administration claiming that the school management was pressuring them to buy uniforms and educational material from a particular outlet located near the school premises. Parents alleged that they were not allowed to purchase uniforms or books from open markets despite high prices being charged at the designated shop.

The matter eventually reached Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal, who directed the district education department to conduct an immediate investigation into the allegations. The issue quickly turned into a major Public Interest Story in Bilaspur as parents demanded stricter monitoring of private schools operating in the district.

Raid Conducted By Officials

Following the collector’s instructions, District Education Officer Vijay Kumar Tande formed a special team to investigate the complaint. The inspection team included senior education department officials and administrative representatives. During the raid, the team inspected Sai Enterprises, a shop operating opposite the school campus in Vyapar Vihar area. Officials claimed they found uniforms carrying the school’s official tags along with books reportedly prescribed for students of the institution. After preliminary verification, the shop was sealed by the administration.

School Gets Notice

Following the action, the education department issued a formal notice to the school management seeking clarification regarding the alleged link with the shop. Officials stated that government guidelines clearly prohibit private schools from forcing parents to buy uniforms, books or stationery from any particular vendor. Authorities also warned that strict action could be initiated against institutions violating educational norms and commercial conduct rules. The department said further action would depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

Network Under Scanner

During the inspection, officials reportedly called the shop operator for questioning. According to sources, the operator claimed the store had already been transferred to a person allegedly connected with the school administration. Documents examined during the inquiry reportedly supported parts of the claim, raising suspicion about indirect involvement of individuals associated with the institution. Investigators are now examining financial transactions and operational links connected to the shop. Officials believe the matter may involve a wider commercial arrangement designed to generate profits through compulsory purchases by parents.

Principal Denies Allegations

Reacting to the action, school principal Jitendra Hundal denied any direct involvement of the school in operating the sealed shop. He stated that the store was located outside the official school premises and claimed several other commercial establishments also functioned in the same area. The principal further said the school management had no role in deciding what products were sold in nearby shops. However, education department officials maintained that the investigation would continue based on available records and complaints received from parents.

Strict Rules In Place

Authorities said the state government has already issued clear regulations regarding sale of school books, uniforms and stationery items. Under existing norms, private schools cannot force parents to buy material from specific vendors. Schools are also not permitted to change uniforms frequently.

Officials said school uniforms generally cannot be changed before three years unless special approval is granted. The government has also mandated that only NCERT and SCERT books are allowed for Classes 1 to 8 in recognised institutions. Apart from this, annual fee hikes beyond prescribed limits are also subject to regulation.

Hundreds Of Schools Under Watch

Bilaspur district reportedly has around 562 private schools functioning under different boards and educational societies.v To monitor irregularities, the government has constituted district-level monitoring committees headed by collectors and district education officers.

Despite the regulations, complaints regarding arbitrary fee collection and forced purchases from selected vendors continue to emerge from different districts. Officials admitted that this was among the first major cases in Bilaspur where a shop was sealed in connection with alleged violations involving private school operations.

The Chhattisgarh government has capped annual fee hikes in private schools at 8% and barred institutions from forcing parents to buy books, uniforms or stationery from specific vendors, tightening oversight over private school operations in a major public interest move. The School Education Department has issued separate orders to all district collectors and district education officers, directing strict enforcement from the current academic session.

The twin directives come amid rising complaints from parents over steep fee revisions and alleged commercial practices by private schools. According to officials, the orders are aimed at regulating unaided private schools and reducing out-of-pocket expenses for families, making this one of the key Government Updates in the state’s education sector.

Fee Hike Capped

Under the Chhattisgarh Private School Fee Regulation Act, 2020, private schools can increase annual fees by only up to 8% without prior approval. Any proposal beyond that limit will now require clearance from the district fee committee.

The department has also made it mandatory for every private school to constitute an internal fee committee. Officials said nodal principals and district education officers will monitor compliance and flag violations. Schools found collecting fees in excess of the prescribed limit may face disciplinary action under the existing regulatory framework.

The move sends a clear signal that arbitrary fee revision will invite scrutiny and possible enforcement, especially as schools begin fresh admissions and fee collection for the new academic year.

Books Rule Tightened

In a separate order, the state government has barred private schools from compelling parents to purchase books from private publishers outside prescribed norms. For Classes 1 to 8, schools have been directed to use only NCERT textbooks for classroom instruction.

For Classes 9 to 12, schools cannot compel students to buy books from any particular shop or seller. The same restriction applies to uniforms and stationery. Schools have been told they cannot create tied purchase arrangements or informal vendor networks that force parents into fixed buying channels.

Officials said district authorities have been asked to ensure schools do not impose indirect pressure through circulars, verbal instructions or preferred vendor lists.

Relief For Parents

The orders are expected to bring immediate relief to middle-class families, many of whom have repeatedly complained of rising school expenses beyond tuition. Parents have long alleged that several private schools inflate annual costs by linking admissions and classroom requirements to expensive books, branded uniforms and exclusive stationery purchases.

By restricting such practices, the government has attempted to address one of the most persistent concerns in school education affordability. The latest move is likely to resonate strongly with urban and semi-urban households facing rising education costs, according to officials and sector observers.

Monitoring At District Level

The School Education Department has placed responsibility for enforcement at the district level. Collectors and district education officers have been directed to maintain oversight, review complaints and ensure a transparent grievance redressal process.

Sources indicated that district administrations may also be asked to submit compliance reports to the department in the coming weeks. This could help create a formal record of school-level violations and enable targeted action where required.

The emphasis on district-level monitoring suggests the government wants enforcement to move beyond advisory notices and into active compliance checks.

Wider Policy Signal

The decision carries wider administrative and political significance. It comes at a time when concerns over privatisation of education, rising school costs and weak fee regulation have become recurring issues in public discourse.

By targeting both fee regulation and school-linked commercial practices, the state has expanded scrutiny beyond academics into the financial conduct of private institutions. This positions the move as both a regulatory intervention and a consumer protection measure within the education system.

The development also fits into a broader India News Update cycle in which state governments are facing growing pressure to regulate private education more tightly.

What Happens Next

The immediate test will be enforcement. While the rules are already in place under existing law, their impact will depend on how aggressively district authorities act on complaints and monitor compliance during the academic session.