Holiday on Paper Only? Some private schools in Patiala remain open in defiance of CM’s orders as authorities look away
Kanwar Inder Singh / royalpatiala.in News / January 27, 2026
Some private schools in Patiala are known for regularly disobeying the orders of the state’s Chief Minister and Education Minister. Despite repeated defiance of government directives, the district administration has failed to take effective action against them.
Kaintal School, Akal Academy, Reet Kheri are among the institutions accused of violating government orders. These schools reportedly called students and teachers to campus despite clear instructions issued by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann declaring a holiday in all schools on January 27, 2026.
Residents of Patiala have raised serious concerns, questioning the government’s claims of “zero tolerance” towards violations, corruption, drugs, violence, offenders etc. They ask why no action has been taken against private school authorities in this case. Locals believe that if private schools were allowed to remain open in Patiala, similar violations must have occurred in other parts of Punjab as well.”
Narinder, a local resident, said, “The Congress government had zero tolerance towards schools that defied the Education Minister’s orders. Notices were regularly issued and fines were imposed on private school authorities. The spirit of implementing government orders is clearly missing among bureaucrats and education department officers under the present government, with the Patiala administration being a prime example.”
A principal of another reputed school on the condition of anonymity had said “Many other schools are calling teachers. Instructions must be clear and uniform for everyone, and the Government notification should be strictly followed by all schools, otherwise, we feel we are lagging behind.”
According to available information, Kaintal School called its teachers to school on January 27 despite the declared holiday, and some students were also reportedly asked to attend. To confirm this and obtain the school’s version, Kaintal School Patiala’s Jai Virk could not be contacted despite repeated phone calls.
Meanwhile, the administrator of Akal Academy, Reet Kheri, located on Sirhind Road, Patiala, admitted, “Yes, we have called teachers and some students as an external practical examination is scheduled for today.” When informed that the Chief Minister had declared a holiday for all schools, he stated, “We have already informed the DEO office, Patiala about this.”
When contacted, DEO Patiala Sanjiv Kumar said, “Right now, I am in court.”
As per the School Education Department’s official orders:“In accordance with the directives of the Honourable Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Singh Mann, on the occasion of Republic Day, a holiday is declared in all government, aided, recognized, and private schools of the state on January 27.”
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