Karimnagar: Notebooks, uniforms, shoes and textbooks of the NCERT are being sold at a ready-made apparel store of the city. The store is located in a shopping complex that belongs to the police department. Sources said another shop is being operated in LMD Colony, on the outskirts.NCERT textbooks can be sold by anybody. One has to secure a licence from the commercial tax department and civic authorities to sell notebooks, uniforms and other material required for a school student. One needs to pay commercial tax if the sales exceed Rs 7.5 lakh per annum.
Parents allege that the store manager was forcing costumers to purchase notebooks, uniform and shoes if they wanted NCERT textbooks.“As a result, we are losing huge amounts in purchasing stationery from this store. And the rates are considerably higher than the maximum retail price (MRP) printed on the books,” said Mr U. Chandrasekhar, a parent from Mankammathota.
The owner had not obtained licence and the authorities have not bothered to check. “I am selling notebooks here because parents want me to do so. I have been doing this for two years,” said proprietor A. Raji Reddy.
