PUNE: The school education department has called a meeting of representatives on Wednesday to discuss the Bansal committee recommendations on fees in private schools. But invitees of the meeting have demanded that the government first declare its decision on the report to make the deliberations fruitful.

Recommendations of the Bansal committee have caused a major controversy as it upheld autonomy to private schools in deciding the fee structure. NGOs and parent groups opposing the recommendations have formed a state-level action committee which spearheaded the campaign. As per Bombay high court order, the state government was expected to decide on the committee's report within four weeks of receiving objections from the stakeholders. This decision is to be conveyed and discussed with representatives of stakeholders within two weeks thereafter.

The meeting called by the school education department is part of this laid-down time frame. The exact number of participants for Wednesday's meeting could not be confirmed as director of secondary and higher secondary education Bhalchandra Desle was not reachable.

Sources claim that not more than 18 people were invited for the meeting. They include Milind Wagh and Chhaya Dev of Forum Against Commercialisation of Education and Mahadev Deshmukh, petitioner in Kharghar case who set the ball rolling.

When contacted, Wagh said, “As this meeting is supposed to be a post-decisional meeting, we demand that the state government should announce its decision on the Bansal committee report. Once this decision is known, we can put forth our views. Else there is no propriety in holding the meeting.”

 Milind Wagh, an invitee of the meeting, expressed displeasure over inadequate representation to stakeholders at the meeting.