Maharashtra Govt. Directed by Bombay HC Not to Act Against Private Schools over Fee-Issue

Vinod Kakumanu
Aug. 31, 2021, 11:54 a.m.

On Aug 12 Maharashtra Govt has issued resolution on 15% fee cut for the academic year 2021-22 for all schools of all boards and all mediums. The state was temporarily restrained by the Bombay High Court from acting against private schools in case of their refusal to abide by the Aug 12 resolution of fee reduction.

The state has also been asked by the HC to respond to the petition against the Aug 12 government resolution (GR), filed by the Association of Private Schools. The petition challenged the resolution on the ground that the government neither amended the Fee Act nor passed any ordinance before issuing GR. According to the GR, schools which had received full fees from students had to either refund 15% of the fees or adjust the same towards the next instalment of fee. As per the GR, complaints in cases of disputes should be filed with the divisional fee regulatory or the divisional grievance redressal committee and their decision will be deemed final.

The state education department justified the fee reduction citing the supreme Court’s directives to the Rajasthan government in May 2021 which stated that fees should be reduced by 15% as the students did not use the facilities.

The request by school education department seeking two weeks to respond to the petition has been accepted by the court. In its order, the bench stated, “Till next date, the respondents shall not take any coercive steps against the petitioners for not implementing the impugned GR dated August 12, 2021.”