State government pleader R V Govilkar revealed this on Monday to the Bombay High Court which is hearing a writ petition filed by the Forum for Fairness in Education seeking a complete ban on private coaching classes.

Earlier, the division bench headed by Chief Justice M B Shah had directed the government to set up a high-power committee to see if there was need for regulating the coaching classes. The committee was also to identify the defaulting teachers who indulge in illegal coaching in private classes. The committee was also empowered to act against the erring college teachers by withdrawing salary grants of those colleges where they teach. The next hearing is scheduled on September 28.

Meanwhile, the university counsel today gave details of the steps initiated by the Academic Council to ensure minimum attendance ofstudents in colleges. The council has directed that the principal of the college should constitute an attendance committee, including senior faculty members, which should clarify the procedure for marking attendance; separate records of attendance, subject-wise and class-wise, should be maintained; minimum 75 per cent attendance required in theory lectures, practicals and tutorials.