From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Feb 13: Self-styled godman Nityananda’s Gurukula, near Bidadi, in the Bangalore city outskirts is likely to face action from the State Education Department.

Pointing out that the Gurukula purportedly run by the self-styled godman, who has been under the police scanner in the recent past, had not obtained any permission from the Education Department, Karnataka’s Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar said action would be initiated against the Gurukula.

Talking to reporters in Bangalore on Thursday, said he held meetings with the Ramanagara district administration as well as his department officials regarding operation of the Gurukula without any permission.

He said that he has issued necessary directions on service notice to the Gurukula management as a first step.
Both civil and criminal action could be taken against the management and the department would cautiously move in the matter, he said.

The minister has also directed the children may be sent to their parents.
``If the Gurukula does not adhere to the Government’s direction, the children may be taken into its custody to ensure that they were not misused or ill-treated,” Ratnakar said.
The Education Department’s permission is mandatory to run any sort of educational institution in the state, the minister said.

Priority for Teachers, mainly couples in Transfers

Ratnakar said the department would give priority to about 46,000 teachers including 17,000 teacher couples, during the next transfer season.

The department has to bring out an enactment or an ordinance to exempt these transfer cases from the purview of Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Teachers) Rules, 2007.
The rules prescribe maximum cap as to the number of teachers, who can be transferred through counselling and by no other means.

The Minister’s assurance comes after the Karnataka High Court’s observation that the rules should be teacher-friendly and spouses serving at different locations should be brought together.

Ratnakar said the department would attempt to bring the couple teachers within the same district as far as possible. ``We too understand the problems of the families of the teachers,” he said.

At the same time, there were several thousand teachers, who could not get transfers to the places of their choice despite attending the counselling for several years and it was necessary to look after their interests as well, the minister said.
He said the Education Department has made a list of all teachers, who would be given priority during the next transfer.