25.01.2009

LAWYERS' MEET ON FEE HIKE IN UNAIDED SCHOOLS

Dear Friends,

We are all silent witness to the arbitrary and exorbitant fee hike every year in all the unaided recognized private schools in Delhi. The schools as usual have hiked fee at the rate of more than 10% in the beginning of the current academic year of 2008-2009.  Now, in the mid-year of this academic year, the schools are proposing to further hike the fee at the rate of 70% to 100% with effect from 01.04.2008 plus arrears for nearly 32 months ranging between Rs. 10, 000/- to Rs. 30, 000/- per student on the pretext of sixth pay commission recommendations. Some of the schools have already enforced the proposed fee hike in violation of Delhi School Education Act, 1973 and the Orders of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of Delhi Abhibhavak Mahasangh (AIR 1999 Delhi 124 DB).

It is unfortunate that the Government of Delhi which is not only empowered by law but has also a constitutional and a statutory duty to check the menace of commercialization of education by the unaided recognized private schools has always remained a passive spectator. We all know that commercialization of education is legally prohibited and a school charging arbitrary and exorbitant fee is guilty of indulging in commercialization of education.

It is submitted that both the Hon'ble Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court have well settled the principles for determination of fee and other charges by unaided recognized private schools. However, both the Government of Delhi and the Schools are issuing misleading public statements resulting in utter confusion amongst the parents/students.

The lawyers as a class is not only affected by such arbitrary and unjustified fee hike but has also a crucial role to fight for the protection of the rights of the parents/students. It is, therefore, decided to hold an informal interactive session of lawyers to discuss the current issue of fee hike in unaided recognized private schools. Mr. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate  (M-09811101923) who has been consistently advocating the cause of the parents/students since 1997 has agreed to brief the lawyer friends on this hot issue.

It is, therefore, requested that you may kindly participate in this informal interactive session of lawyers to be held on Tuesday, 27.01.2009 from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm at Parking Lot, Western Wing, Tis Hazari Courts, opposite State Bank of India, Delhi-110054.

With regards,

Kusum Sharma, Advocate, President, Social Jurist

Mob- 9818026552

Dinesh Rohilla, Advocate, General Secretary,

Faith Academy Parents' Association

Mob- 9268130817

LAWYERS FOR RIGHT TO EDUCATION