Karnataka Public School in Mandya accused of charging fees despite free education policy: Report
Mandya: A government-run Karnataka Public School (KPS) in K.R. Pet, Mandya district, has come under scrutiny after accusations surfaced that it has been charging fees from students although the institution is supposed to impart education free of cost.
Parents of students attending the school have alleged that they were being charged between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000 per student for the academic year. According to a parent quoted by Deccan Herald on Thursday, when they questioned the school authorities, they were told that the fees were being levied because the institution was offering education in English medium.
The fee collection has sparked concern not only among the parents but also within the School Development Monitoring Committee (SDMC), which has complained to the Block Education Officer (BEO) about the alleged practice. However, despite the complaints, no action has reportedly been taken by the BEO so far.
Some students were reportedly issued receipts acknowledging the payment of fees. Interestingly, the receipts were issued under the name of a private coaching institute, DH added.
Additionally, some parents revealed that they were asked to deposit the fees into a joint bank account registered under the names of the SDMC chairman and the school principal.
Puligeraiah, the in-charge principal of the school, who took over duties only on July 1, claimed that he was unaware of the issue.
Meanwhile, the Department of School Education has sought a report from the Mandya Deputy Director of Public Instruction regarding the allegations.
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Conspiracy afoot to 'tarnish' image of Dharmasthala: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Aug 14 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said there was a “conspiracy” to tarnish the image of Dharmasthala.
His comments come amid an ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into serious allegations of mass burials in the revered temple town in Dakshina Kannada district.
“A conspiracy is being hatched to destroy hundreds of years of legacy. It is not correct to tarnish someone just like that. It has all happened due to one complainant,” he said.
Noting that some Congress MLAs have called for action against those involved in the slander campaign at the legislature party meeting, he said, “ I have told them that action must be taken against those who are indulging in a slander campaign. The CM has also said that action must be taken against such people.”
“I have information on this case. Religious feelings should not be hurt in any manner. Culprits must be punished,” he told reporters, according to a release from his office.
Responding to a question, Shivakumar said the Congress party will not allow the image of any religious place to be tarnished.
“We see everyone equally when it comes to religion,” he added.
The SIT, formed by the state government, is probing claims of mass murder, rape, and mass burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades.
The complainant, a former sanitation worker whose identity has not been revealed, alleged that between 1995 and 2014 he was forced to handle bodies—including women and minors—and that some showed signs of sexual assault. He has given a statement before a magistrate.
As part of the probe, the SIT has been conducting exhumations at multiple locations identified by the complainant-witness in the forested areas along the banks of the Netravathi River in Dharmasthala, where some skeletal remains have been found at two sites so far.
