Chandigarh: Taking serious note of complaints from parents over the purchase of school books and uniforms, Chandigarh mayor Saurabh Joshi has written to the UT education secretary seeking immediate intervention. He said several parents had approached him in recent days, alleging that certain private schools were indirectly pressuring them to buy books from a particular shop, causing inconvenience and additional financial burden.“Over the past few days, a large number of parents have complained that some private schools are compelling them to purchase books and uniforms only from selective bookshops. Such practices not only create unnecessary hassles but also impose extra costs on families. It is widely known that prescribed books of several private schools are available only at a few designated shops, creating a monopoly-like situation and leaving parents with little or no choice,” the mayor said.Joshi stressed that commercialisation and arbitrary practices in education cannot be tolerated, adding that any attempt to exploit parents under the pretext of school policies must be addressed promptly.To tackle the issue, the mayor has requested the education department to set up a dedicated toll-free helpline for parents to report instances where schools force the purchase of books or uniforms from restricted vendors. He further suggested that all private schools be directed to submit a list of multiple vendors or bookshops where their prescribed materials are available, ensuring parents are not tied to a single seller.Joshi also urged the department to publish this consolidated vendor list on its official website to ensure transparency and easy access. He said the municipal corporation should be roped in for enforcement so that any school found violating the norms or indirectly compelling parents to buy from selective shops can be penalised appropriately under the law.Following the mayor’s communication and continuing concerns raised by parent groups, the district education officer (DEO) issued revised directions to all private unaided recognised schools in Chandigarh.The order directs schools to upload the complete class-wise list of prescribed textbooks, including title, author and publisher, along with details of uniforms on their official websites within three days. Schools have also been asked to display the lists prominently on school notice boards accessible to parents.The DEO has further clarified that schools must not verbally or in writing direct parents to purchase books or uniforms from any particular vendor and must ensure that the prescribed items are available at multiple shops across the city.The directions also state that schools are strictly prohibited from coercing parents to buy books, stationery or uniforms from within the school premises. Parents are free to purchase the prescribed items from any vendor of their choice in the open market.Notably, parent bodies had earlier complained that several schools had not uploaded the prescribed book lists even after earlier instructions, leading to confusion and limiting purchasing options for families. The DEO has warned that any verified complaint regarding forced purchases due to delayed publication of lists will be taken seriously.
