In a major relief to parents,
the Delhi High Court on Wednesday ruled that private schools cannot charge fees
for more than one month at a time.
Justice Valmiki Mehta said parents
cannot be forced to deposit the school fees on a quarterly, half-yearly or
yearly basis. He also gave the liberty to the guardians to deposit the school
fees by 10th of every month, according to Delhi School Education (DSE) rules.
While parents welcomed the court order, school authorities expressed disappointment saying monthly fee collection might complicate the procedure. After the court hearing, advocate Ashok Agarwal said the judgment will have its implications on all unaided, private schools in the country.
Parent's plea
The high court was hearing a petition filed by 10 parents whose wards are studying in Summerfield School in the national Capital. The parents had sought respite from the school's practice of quarterly fee payment. The HC bench said the DSE rules do not permit schools to charge fees in any manner other than monthly basis. It further said even the directorate of education is no authority to allow unaided, private schools to charge fees for more than one month at a time.
Agarwal, appearing for the parents, told the court that most of the unaided, private schools have started insisting on half-yearly payment of fees in advance. "Such a practice on the part of the schools is anti-child, violative of the fundamental rights of the parents as guaranteed to them under Articles 14, 21, 21A and 38 of the Constitution, read with provisions of DSE Act, 1973 and the rules made there under," the advocate said.
Samrina Hassan, a parent from RK Puram, said, "It is a huge relief for parents. It will certainly make things easier."
Daljeet Bhogal, a parent from Janakpuri who has two school going kids, expressed happiness over the judgment and said, "It is a welcome order because depositing fees on quarterly basis is a tough task. Months before submitting the fees, we have to start recounting our accounts. It is very stressful."
Schools, on the other hand, said they had moved to the quarterly system of fee submission for parents' convenience. "As of now, parents are given time to pay the fee and then they also get a fortnight as grace period following which they are sent a reminder. Just this process takes up to a month, so charging fee every month is a little impractical," said Jyoti Bose, Principal, Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan
While parents welcomed the court order, school authorities expressed disappointment saying monthly fee collection might complicate the procedure. After the court hearing, advocate Ashok Agarwal said the judgment will have its implications on all unaided, private schools in the country.
Parent's plea
The high court was hearing a petition filed by 10 parents whose wards are studying in Summerfield School in the national Capital. The parents had sought respite from the school's practice of quarterly fee payment. The HC bench said the DSE rules do not permit schools to charge fees in any manner other than monthly basis. It further said even the directorate of education is no authority to allow unaided, private schools to charge fees for more than one month at a time.
Agarwal, appearing for the parents, told the court that most of the unaided, private schools have started insisting on half-yearly payment of fees in advance. "Such a practice on the part of the schools is anti-child, violative of the fundamental rights of the parents as guaranteed to them under Articles 14, 21, 21A and 38 of the Constitution, read with provisions of DSE Act, 1973 and the rules made there under," the advocate said.
Samrina Hassan, a parent from RK Puram, said, "It is a huge relief for parents. It will certainly make things easier."
Daljeet Bhogal, a parent from Janakpuri who has two school going kids, expressed happiness over the judgment and said, "It is a welcome order because depositing fees on quarterly basis is a tough task. Months before submitting the fees, we have to start recounting our accounts. It is very stressful."
Schools, on the other hand, said they had moved to the quarterly system of fee submission for parents' convenience. "As of now, parents are given time to pay the fee and then they also get a fortnight as grace period following which they are sent a reminder. Just this process takes up to a month, so charging fee every month is a little impractical," said Jyoti Bose, Principal, Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan
