Addressing a press conference, Deshmukh said the step was taken in view of a Bombay High Court directive issued while deciding a petition seeking a ban on coaching classes.

The divisional committee, headed by the joint director of education will be empowered to initiate action against private coaching classes while the district-level committee will deal with complaints against teachers running tuition classes. The complaints will be received and processed by a cell headed by R N Vidhale, junior administrative officer in the Education Department in Nagpur, and by another cell headed by R S Udale, Assistant Education Officer, Amravati. Deshmukh will himself hear grievances against coaching classes on October 8 at Ravi Bhavan Cottage 1, here.

In reply to a question, Deshmukh said action had been initiated against15 Mumbai and Kolhapur teachers who were found running tuition classes. Managements of educational institutions have been directed to stop paying salaries to teachers found running tuition classes, he said.

Teachers would also be directed to file an affidavit stating that they would not run private classes, he added. In the case of college teachers, action would be initiated after an amendment to statutes by universities. Mumbai University had taken the initiative in framing new rules in this regard, he added.

The government has also decided to make 75 per cent attendance compulsory for students. Students failing to fulfil the attendance condition would not be allowed to appear for examinations, he said.

FILM ON AMBEDKAR: Deshmukh, who holds the Culture portfolio, said a film on the life and works of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was ready for release. The film will specially be screened for President K R Narayanan. It will be released after obtaining his clearance and dates for premier shows at Mumbai andNagpur would be announced within a month, he said, adding the film will be dubbed in seven languages.