Fee hike: High Court seeks reply from Delhi Govt

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the response of the Delhi government following a PIL challenging the decision to allow private schools to hike tuition fee.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the response of the Delhi government following a PIL challenging the decision to allow private schools to hike tuition fee. The judges observed that the fee hike was prima-facie “highly objectionable”.

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Issuing notices to the government through the Education Department, and the Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Schools, a division bench comprising Chief Justice A. P. Shah and Justice Sanjiv Khanna sought replies by April 29.

“This (hike in fees) is highly objectionable. Let there be some examination on the whole aspect. Have the schools followed mandatory provision of law with regard to their account?” the bench asked.

Appearing for the parents’ association, counsel Ashok Aggarwal said the government had acted contrary to the recommendation of S.L. Bansal Committee, constituted to look into the fee hike of schools.

The Court asked the government to place on record the entire committee report before it on the next date of hearing.

According to the notification, for every Rs 500 in tuition fees, there will be Rs 100 increase per month.

The Delhi government had constituted a committee headed by S.L. Bansal, a retired IAS officer, to examine the implications of 6th Pay Commission for recognised unaided schools and the Education Department relied on the committee's recommendation while issuing the notification for fee hike.

“Without examining the financial record of the schools as to whether such schools really require an increase in fees or not, the government allowed them to go for the hike which is arbitrary,” counsel Ashok Aggarwal said.