The deputy director of education (Aurangabad division) has taken cognisance of the matter and will soon meet members of a special committee to deliberate on action against the erring lecturers and colleges flouting the court order.

The incident at Paripurthi coaching classes here is the first instance of lecturers being held up to public scrutiny following the June 24 order of the Bombay High Court directing the State Government to monitor coaching classes with lecturers on their rolls.

The court had also directed universities in the state to enforce the existing rules which bar lecturers from this practice and suspend erring candidates with immediate effect.

On Wednesday, members of the All India Students'Federation gheraoed lecturers K R Suryavanshi (Physics), R K Motinge (Zoology), and V V Pohnerkar (Chemistry) of the Deogiri Science College, at the premises of the Paripurthi coaching classes. However, the trio managed to slip away amid the commotion.All three lecturers teaching the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) course hold senior positions at the college. State HSC topper Sanket Dusad was a student of the college. Coincidentally, Dusad had also enrolled for coaching at the Paripurthi classes.

Principal of Deogiri College, R T Deshmukh, told The Indian Express he has asked the three lecturers not to indulge in any activities which could tarnish the college's reputation. ``I have warned them to stop conducting the classes forthwith,'' he adds.

The mild reprimand has disappointed educationists, who were expecting more stringent action from the college. However, Deshmukh says it is for the college management to decide on disciplinary action.

President of the Marathwada Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, whichruns the Deogiri Science College, S S Salunke and its secretary, M H Muley, told The Indian Express that they are ``contemplating strong action against the lecturers after confirming their involvement in the coaching classes''. The also said they are waiting to receive a copy of the court order. ``We will not spare any of our staff members who indulge in unlawful activities, Muley said.However, a committee under the chairmanship of the deputy director of education (Aurangabad division), will soon meet to discuss the issue. The committee, headed by the deputy director M R Deshmukh himself, was set up last year following a government notification to investigate complaints connected with coaching classes. It is also meant to recommend action against erring lecturers to the respective college managements.

It also comprises education officer, (secondary education) as its secretary, the district education officer, two representative each of parents, teachers unions, and students of the Higher SecondaryCertificate course, and two social workers.Asked whether the panel is empowered to act against defaulters, Deshmukh said, ``The (college) management is empowered to take a final decision though we do keep pursuing the case.''