Private school fees: Involve stakeholders, evolve solution directs Gauhati High Court to Dispur

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With respect to the alleged high rates of fees being charged by some private schools in Assam, the Gauhati High Court has directed Dispur to find a solution to the imbroglio by having a meeting of the State's Principal Secretary, Education Department, and other stakeholders and also to apprise the Court as to what can be done.

This direction was given by the High Court after hearing a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) on the issue filed in the Gauhati Court (PIL39/2021) by Fazluzzaman Mazumder.

The issue raised in the present PIL is that in that the present COVID-19 pandemic situation, the private schools are still charging their usual fees from the students although classes are not running in the physical form; but only on-line classes are going on. Moreover, the students are also being charged under the heads for which no service is presently being provided to them in this COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Mr. D. Saikia, learned Advocate General, Assam has apprised this Court that during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, certain orders were passed by the State Government taking this unique situation into consideration and, therefore, the State is open for any suggestion in this matter.

The Court further observed, "We are, prima facie, of the view that whereas entire fees cannot be dispensed with but items for which services or utilities are not being provided to the students in the present situation, such as library, yoga, transportation, laboratory, etc., should not be charged. However, we do not make any final conclusion on this as that would be subject to the result of the meeting between the stakeholders."

The stakeholders comprise the MC (Management Committee) representatives of the non-government educational Institutions and also of the teachers/Parents Association. The Court has listed the matter for on 16.08.2021 along with PIL No.41/2020.

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