Pulwama School Demands Rs 10 Cr from Aakash Institute Rajbagh Over Credit Claim
FIRDOUS AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Jan 29: A high-stakes legal battle over academic credit has erupted in the Kashmir Valley, pitting a local school of Pulwama against Aakash Coaching Institute.
Solace International School, Pulwama, has filed a Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Aakash Coaching Institute, alleging the latter committed and alleged “academic piracy” by falsely claiming credit for a student’s historic Class 10 board exam achievement.
The suit, filed in the court of the Principal District Judge, Pulwama, centres on the stellar performance of student Mr. Mohammad Hafid Bhat, who secured 100% marks and the 1st Rank in the Kashmir Division in the 2024-2025 Class 10 board examinations.
According to the meticulously detailed plaint, accessed by Kashmir Despatch, the conflict stems from advertisements and social media posts published by Aakash Institute’s Srinagar centre. The school alleges these communications misleadingly portrayed Hafid Bhat’s unprecedented success as a product of Aakash’s guidance.
“A clear case of false attribution and unfair trade practice,” states the lawsuit, arguing that the student was exclusively under the tutelage of Solace International School throughout his Class 10 academic year. The plaint emphatically notes that Hafid Bhat only enrolled at Aakash Institute for Class 11 coaching after his board results were declared, severing any legitimate connection to his prior achievement.
The school’s chairman, Waseem Hanief, in a sworn affidavit, contends that the institute’s actions were a “malafide” attempt to “commercially exploit” the student’s success. This, the suit argues, has caused “immense and irreparable damage” to the school’s hard-earned reputation, credibility, and goodwill across the division, besides causing financial loss and mental agony to its administration.
The legal notice reveals that Solace International attempted an out-of-court resolution, serving a legal notice on January 16, 2026, demanding a withdrawal of claims, a public apology, and a cessation of such advertisements. The alleged non-compliance by Aakash Institute precipitated the current lawsuit.
Beyond the staggering monetary claim of Rs 10,00,00,000 (Ten Crore) for damages to reputation and goodwill, the school’s prayers to the court are multifaceted. They seek a permanent injunction to bar Aakash from making similar claims in the future.
Furthermore, they demand a court order directing the institute to publish a public apology and clarification in leading newspapers and on social media, explicitly acknowledging that the Class 10 success is solely attributable to Solace International School.
The case, registered with an e-Court fee of Rs. 3000, touches on critical issues of intellectual property in education, ethical marketing by coaching centres, and the protection of institutional reputation. It raises questions about where credit for a student’s success truly lies—with the school providing foundational, year-long education, or with a subsequent coaching institute.
Legal experts suggest the suit will hinge on evidence of the alleged advertisements, proof of their circulation and impact, and the demonstrable loss suffered by the school. The outcome could set a significant precedent for how educational institutions safeguard their academic brand against perceived encroachment.
As the case proceeds, the educational community in Kashmir and beyond will be watching closely, aware that the verdict could redefine the rules of engagement in the fiercely competitive world of academic coaching and institutional prestige.
