Delhi Govt Has Challenged The Order of HC Allowing Schools To Raise Fees Without Permission

In 2017, the DoE had allowed the schools to go ahead with an "interim fee hike" up to 15 % in line with the recommendations of the seventh pay commission which are provided that they get their financial accounts audited by the government in a fixed period of time.

 

Delhi government has challenged the High Court order setting aside a rule that barred private schools built on public land to raise fees without seeking prior permission, a senior official said on Monday. Private unaided schools are allowed by the Delhi High court last week in the city to go ahead with an interim raise in fees for implementing the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission on salaries of teachers and other employees.

 

A senior official of the Directorate of Education (DoE) said that 325 private schools in the city, including some well-known ones, are built on government land. He added that this condition was part of the agreement which the government had made with such schools at the time of allotting land. In addition, if they get a free hand to arbitrarily raise fees ultimately parents will suffer, which they are not in favor of. Therefore, they will challenge the order.

 

The High Court observed that so long as the fees charged by the concerned private schools did not amount to ‘commercialization of education’, therefore understood, the Constitution clearly advocates a ‘hands off’ approach by the government, insofar as the establishment and administration of the institution, including the fixation of fees by it, was concerned. This would also immunize the institution from the need of being called upon for explaining its receipts and expenses, as before a chartered accountant.

 

The court also went on for adding that the interim hike, as a temporary measure, did not infract the fundamental rights, either of the institution or of those to whom it imparted education and therefore, it was perfectly in order. In 2017, the DoE had given permission the schools to go ahead with “interim fee hike” up to 15 % in line with the seventh pay commission’s recommendations which are provided they get their financial accounts audited by the government in a fixed period of time. Last year, the order was withdrawn by the AAP government representing that the schools would have to obtain prior permission from it before rising their fees and any hike would be permitted only after an audit of the schools’ accounts.

 

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https://indianexpress.com/article/education/delhi-govt-to-challenge-hc-order-allowing-schools-to-hike-fees-without-permission-5632453/