Allahabad HC Asks Schools to Refund 15% of Fees For 2020-21

A bench of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice J.J. Munir said that 15 per cent of the entire fees charged in the session 2020-21 will have to be adjusted in the next session.

Allahabad High Court Fee Refund Orders: The Allahabad High Court (HC) on Monday asked schools in the state to refund 15 per cent fees of children for 2020-21 when offline classes could not be held due to the COVID -19 pandemic. A bench of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice J.J. Munir said that 15 per cent of the entire fees charged in the session 2020-21 will have to be adjusted in the next session, reported news agency IANS.

Petition Filed On Behalf of Many Parents Regarding Regulation of School Fees

A petition had been filed on behalf of many parents regarding regulation of school fees being charged during the Corona period.

COVID Period (2020-21): Only Online Tuition Provided in Private Schools

In the court, on behalf of the petitioner parents, it was emphasised that no service except online tuition was provided in private schools in the year 2020-21. Thus, charging even a single rupee more than the tuition fees by private schools is nothing but profiteering and commercialisation of education, they had argued, reported IANS.

The petitioners have also cited the recent judgment of the Supreme Court in Indian School, Jodhpur v. State of Rajasthan in support of their contention, which states that private schools demanding fees without providing any service amounts to profiteering of education.

Refund 15 per cent of the fee charged in 2 Month

According to the order of the High Court, the schools will also have to refund 15 per cent of the fee charged in the year 2020-21 to the children who have left the school. To do this whole process, the High Court has given all the schools 2 months’ time. All the petitions were heard on January 6 and the decision has come on Monday.

(With Inputs From IANS)