On Monday, Karnataka’s Minister of School Education, B C Nagesh, announced his intention to file a defamation case against Lokesh Talikatte, the president of the Registered Unaided Private School Association (RUPSA). This decision follows accusations by Talikatte of corruption within the education department.
Nagesh stated that the allegations made by Lokesh lack substantiated evidence and are baseless. In response to these accusations, Nagesh expressed his intent to pursue legal action against Lokesh for defamation. Simultaneously, Nagesh pledged to conduct a third-party inquiry and take appropriate action against any Block Education Official (BEO) or Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) found guilty of corruption or granting unauthorized permissions for private schools.
Highlighting the Chief Minister’s approval to address various “irregularities” among BEOs, Nagesh disclosed that the department had initiated an inquiry, targeting around 33 BEOs for non-compliance with the Karnataka Education Act. Additionally, actions have been taken against two private schools for operating without submitting proper documentation.
In response, Lokesh Talikatte accused the government of engaging in a political witch-hunt and asserted that the RUPSA would vehemently oppose corrupt officials undermining the private school sector. Talikatte alleged that local education officials ordered inspections of approximately 11 member schools, including six from his Sandeepani Group of Schools.
Earlier accusations by Talikatte, on August 26, included bribery and extortion against BEOs, DDPIs, and other education officials. He had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that officials demanded bribes for providing no-objection certificates, renewing recognition, and reimbursing Right to Education funds.
Talikatte claimed that despite providing evidence of corruption involving two BEOs to the education department, no action had been taken against them. He accused the government of disrupting classes and causing mental distress to private school teachers through raids since August 27.
Education department officials countered these claims, asserting that many private schools lacked proper documentation. They accused some institutions of unauthorized construction, violation of the medium of instruction, and deviating from approved syllabi, such as following CBSE or ICSE curricula without permission.
