Junior colleges that admitted Class 11 students offline face Rs 5,000 fine per student

Pune, October 30, 2026: Maharashtra's school education department has ordered strict action against junior colleges that bypassed the state's centralised online admission process in the academic year 2025-26 and gave Class 11 students unapproved offline admissions. Thousands of affected students have been given relief and allowed to sit the Class 12 examination, but the institutions responsible will have to pay fines and face disciplinary action.

According to an order issued by Dr Mahesh Palkar, Director of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, colleges found guilty of giving admissions without approval will have to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 for every student admitted offline. The amount will be recovered from the college management. Collecting this money from students has been strictly prohibited.

The matter came to light when several junior colleges were accused of skipping the centralised online process and admitting students directly to Class 11. With Class 12 examination forms being filled at the time, uncertainty arose over the academic future of thousands of students.

So that students do not have to bear the cost of the institutions' fault, the education department has permitted them to take the Class 12 examination. However, such students will be given examination centres in other colleges instead of their own.

The department has asked officials to obtain written explanations from the managements of the schools and colleges concerned. Officials must also check whether students had regular attendance, the state of classroom facilities, the condition of the building and other infrastructure, and whether the Right to Education (RTE) rules were followed.

The directorate has instructed officials to complete action in all such cases and submit a report within seven days. It has also warned that officials concerned may face action if the orders are not carried out.

Principals face demotion and increment cuts: The department has also fixed responsibility on the headmasters and principals who approved admissions against government rules. Under the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1981, managements have been directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings against those found responsible.

Possible action includes stopping salary increments and demotion. If the management does not act even after the inquiry, the findings will have to be sent to the directorate under Section 4A(1) of the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools (Conditions of Service) Regulation Act, 1977.

Warning against repeat: The education department has cautioned junior colleges against repeating such irregularities in the academic year 2026-27. Institutions found again giving offline admissions without approval will face strict action.

The move aims to enforce the centralised admission system and also to ensure that students who were wrongly admitted do not lose a year because of the institutions' fault.