National

Jharkhand Assembly Addresses Issue of Private School Fee Increases

Published

2 years ago

March 26, 2025

During the budget session on Tuesday, members of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly addressed concerns regarding the excessive fees charged by private schools. Legislators, including Pradeep Prasad, Babulal Marandi, and Naveen Jaiswal, voiced their worries about the steep fees associated with re-admission and other miscellaneous charges. There was a notable consensus among both ruling and opposition parties on this matter.

Education Minister Ramdas Soren stated that citizens can file complaints with the district-level committee if schools violate regulations, emphasizing that strict actions will be taken against any offenders.

Assembly Speaker Ravindranath Mahato underscored the urgency of enacting a law to regulate school fees, calling on the government to act, a proposal that was met with substantial support from fellow members.

Hazaribagh MLA Pradeep Prasad questioned the disparity in fees charged by different schools under the same educational board and urged the government to implement a uniform fee structure across all private institutions. He highlighted that without government intervention in fee regulation, poorer families would be unable to afford private education for their children.

Opposition Leader Babulal Marandi acknowledged the existence of a Fee Regulatory Tribunal to oversee private school fees but noted that it seldom convenes. He proposed that these meetings should take place monthly, led by the District Commissioner, particularly prior to the admission season, and recommended notifying public representatives ahead of time so they could address parents’ concerns.

Minister Ramdas Soren clarified that while private schools have the autonomy to set their own fees, actions will be taken against those that violate regulations. He recognized the issue of high re-admission fees as a significant concern, assuring that any complaints would be thoroughly examined by the district-level committee. Schools found in violation could face fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. He also mentioned that the government had previously attempted to tackle this issue by seeking a High Court intervention against arbitrary school fees, although the petition was ultimately dismissed.

Following this intense discussion in the Jharkhand Assembly, a critical question remains: Will the state government actually legislate to regulate school fees, or will this issue continue to be a mere point of contention? The government has indicated it will await the committee’s recommendations, while some opposition members and MLAs are advocating for prompt action.

For now, it remains to be seen whether the government will heed the Speaker’s recommendation or let the dialogue linger in political debates without tangible outcomes.

National

Marriage Turns into Alleged Fraud as Woman Flees with Jewellery

Published

2 days ago

October 7, 2026

Namma Kudla

Chandigarh: A woman who allegedly posed as a PCS officer and married an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in Punjab reportedly fled with gold and silver jewellery and other valuables just a few months after the wedding.

AAP Joint Secretary Amarinder Singh Mandofal has alleged that he was cheated by the woman, identified as Manwinder Kaur. The two got married in February 2026 after Kaur’s family introduced her to Amarinder as a PCS officer.

According to Amarinder’s complaint, the woman was also presented as unmarried. However, he later allegedly discovered that she had been married earlier and had a son aged around 18. He also claimed that she had provided false information about her age.

The woman allegedly left the house with gold and silver jewellery and other valuable items a few months after the marriage. Amarinder said he became suspicious and later gathered information about her past.

Based on his complaint, police have registered a case against six people, including Kaur, on charges of cheating and forgery.

The FIR names her brother Tarlochan Singh, mother Varinderjit Kaur, cousin Narinder Singh Goldy, sister-in-law Rupinder Kaur, and former village sarpanch Surinder Singh Rana as co-accused.

Police said all the accused are residents of Sur Singh village under the Bhikhiwind police station limits in Tarn Taran district.

The wedding had been attended by several prominent AAP leaders and public representatives, including Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh.

Videos and pictures from the wedding celebrations have also gone viral on social media.

Police have begun an investigation into the allegations and the background of the accused.

National

Man Dies by Suicide after Jumping from 43rd Floor

Published

5 days ago

October 4, 2026

Namma Kudla

Noida: A man died by suicide after jumping from the 43rd floor of the Supernova Tower in Noida on Saturday.

The incident took place at the Supernova complex in Sector 94. A video shows the man standing near the railing before jumping. Another person tried to stop him but could not prevent the incident.

Police identified the deceased as Sambhav Jain, a resident of Manesar, Haryana. He had reportedly checked into an Airbnb in the building on Friday and was scheduled to leave on Saturday.

Police said Jain had called his father several times before the incident. His family has been informed.

The police and forensic teams inspected the spot and collected evidence. CCTV footage is also being checked as part of the investigation.

Police said Jain was reportedly under severe financial stress. His body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

The investigation is underway.

National

Captain Smit Machchhar Shares Ordeal with PM Modi

Published

6 days ago

October 3, 2026

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Captain Smit Machchhar over a video call and praised his courage after he helped prevent a major air disaster.

Captain Machchhar was seriously injured after his co-pilot allegedly stabbed him during a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. The Boeing 737 MAX reportedly lost nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

Passengers and crew members entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot. A second pair of pilots then took control and safely landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. More than 170 passengers and crew were on board.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Captain Machchhar told PM Modi that he was badly injured and had collapsed in the cockpit. He realised that the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude and that he had to act.

“I could not let all those people die,” he told the Prime Minister.

Captain Machchhar said his 17 years of flying experience helped him understand what was happening to the aircraft. He managed to open the cockpit door, after which passengers and crew came to his help.

He also said he was chanting the Hanuman Chalisa while fighting the pain and fear.

PM Modi praised the captain’s courage, patience and presence of mind. He said Captain Machchhar’s actions helped save many lives and called his effort a “monumental task.”

Captain Machchhar, who is from Gujarat, has more than 9,750 flying hours and has served as a captain for 11 years.