Chandigarh schools can't deny education over non-payment of fee: HC

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 2

Disposing of a PIL against the UT order for payment of school fee, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday observed that non-payment of school fee by any parent would not result in denial of education or any other adverse consequence to the student.

The Bench also laid emphasis on Clause 4 of the order dated May 18 saying that “neither any name of any student is to be struck off nor he/she is to be deprived of teaching on account of non-payment of fee”.

The order issued by the UT Education Secretary calling for payment of tuition fee by specified dates was questioned in a public interest litigation filed by Advocate Pankaj Chandgothia. 

Appearing before the Bench  headed by  Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha, Chandgothia contended that the order on payment of school fee would result in depriving the city school students of their Right to Education on unjust terms. The Chief Justice rued the fact that no parent or child was coming specifically with any plea against school fee and only PILs were being filed in this regard.

The Bench also referred to the existence of a grievance authority by the name of Fee Regulatory Authority constituted by the UT Administration and headed by the UT Education Secretary where the parents could file complaints against the private schools in matters relating to fee. Such complaints are statutorily required to be scrutinised within 15 days of  receipt.