Mumbai school group head fired from fee panel on parents’ request

Mumbai city news: Parents were against his appointment because of his past conduct

State education minister Vinod Tawde on Wednesday removed Rustom Kerawalla, founder chairman of Vibgyor High Group of Schools, from a state panel appointed to suggest changes to the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of School) Fee Act, 2011. He took this step after parents complained against Kerawalla alleging his involvement in fee hikes.

State education minister Vinod Tawde, in a statement, said Kerawalla was appointed to represent school managements in an 11-member panel formed on May 7 (HT FILE)

Tawde, in a statement, said Kerawalla was appointed to represent school managements in an 11-member panel formed on May 7 to review the existing fee act and plug loopholes that allow indiscriminate increase in fees. The committee met last week for the first time. Tawde said he was appointed by education officials and was fired after parents complained. “The department had given Kerawalla a chance to represent the school managements following the school’s participation in the fee hike hearings, but this appointment will no longer continue,” said the minister.

When contacted, Kerawalla said the department has not yet informed him about their decision. He added that he didn’t know he was part of the committee. “Although I attended the meeting last week, I did not know that it was a formal meeting of the panel. I thought that the department had only invited stakeholders to give their suggestions,” said Kerawalla.

Parents were against his appointment because of his past conduct — in 2010 the Vibgyor School in Goregaon had expelled a class 9 student on account of her parent’s opposing fee hike. Later, the Supreme Court in 2011 set aside her expulsion but she didn’t return to the school. “Many members of the committee objected when we found out about the appointment. There are many complaints against him and so his inclusion in the committee was not right.,“Anubha Sahai, member of the Parents of Private Schools of Maharashtra (POPSOM).

Other members of the panel include two parent representatives, education officials, and retired judge of Bombay High Court.