Don’t take advantage of fee waivers,HC to parents
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Monday urged parents who can afford the original school fees not to take advantage of the waivers proposed by school committees so that the schools can pass on the financial relief to parents who need it more on case-to-case approach. The HC also suggested that three parents, who will be part of the school fee committees, be decided by lottery.
On an appeal by six CNI schools that they be exempted from submitting their school accounts to the HC-appointed two-member committee, the HC said these schools can “form a committee on similar lines” and suggest whether any concession can be granted. The HC said if the schools agree to this “the accounts of such schools need not be presented before any expert committee set up by this court but the individual parent-teacher committee of the individual school may suggest the extent of concession and the same may be accepted by the court”. The HC will hear the case on September 16.
Six CNI schools — La Martiniere Schools, St James, Pratt Memorial, St Thomas Howrah, St John’s Diocesan School — had moved the Supreme Court and appealed that as minority unaided institutions they enjoy special status and should not be asked to reveal their accounts to the HC appointed expert committee. The CNI schools have told court that they have already given concessions in fees to students and not a single student has been debarred from classes for non-payment. But, many students are yet to pay the reduced fees as per the court’s orders.
The HC is presently hearing a PIL by Vineet Ruia to look into concessions in school fees that can be extended to parents as they are facing financial hardships amid pandemic.
Don’t take advantage of fee waivers, HC to parents
344,953 total views
