Bengaluru: According to the second amendment to the Education Bill approved by both the Houses of Legislature, schools charging excess fee and accepting donations will be penalised to the tune of Rs 10 Lakh.

The Bill tabled by the State Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait received an approval from both the the houses of the state legislature.

Only those schools recognised by the state government and those under the State Educational Act will come under the purview of the new Bill whereas the ones recognised by central boards are exempted from the Act.

A committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner called the “District Education Regulation Authority” will be established. In case of violations of state government guidelines, public can lodge their complaints with the Authority, Sait clarified.

The schools can be fined upto Rs 10 Lakhs if the allegations are proved, confirmed Sait.

In cases related to sexual abuse by school staff, the guilty can be fined by upto Rs 1 Lakh with a minimum imprisonment of 6 months, Minister Sait said and added “a provision also exists in the Bill to derecognise the tainted educational institutions.”

An amended bill related to transfer of teachers too was accepted in both the Houses, mainly intended to regulate the the process.