Hyderabad – The Telangana High Court is reviewing a case against private junior colleges accused of violating summer vacation rules. A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed, claiming these colleges are holding classes—both online and offline—against official guidelines.
A division bench, including Justice Surepalli Nanda and Justice J Srinivas Rao, heard the case during the court’s vacation session. The judges scheduled the next hearing for Wednesday.
The PIL was filed by Bandela Kranthi Kumar, a practicing advocate. His lawyer, CR Sukumar, urged the court to stop private colleges from running academic sessions during summer holidays, Sundays, and public holidays, as defined by the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE).
The petitioner argued that the academic calendar exists to ensure students get essential breaks for their well-being. These breaks support mental health and help students recover from intense academic pressure. He emphasized that even courts take summer breaks for similar reasons.
The state government’s lawyer responded by saying that no junior college is officially conducting academic classes during the break. However, he admitted that the TSBIE has limited control over private institutions offering tuitions and coaching sessions during holidays.
The petitioner’s counsel countered this argument by stating that private colleges are exploiting students without oversight. He highlighted a March 2023 study by the intermediate board, which links academic overload with student stress, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
He further accused education authorities of ignoring their responsibility to monitor these colleges. According to him, officials have failed to step in, allowing these institutes to break rules freely.
To fix the issue, the petitioner asked the court to direct the government to set up a grievance redressal system. This would include a confidential helpline and an online complaint portal, allowing students to report violations safely.
The petitioner’s lawyer also mentioned receiving multiple complaints from students across Telangana, urging action against non-compliant colleges.
The court has not issued any temporary orders yet. It will wait for the government to submit its formal response before proceeding. The next hearing is set for next Wednesday.
