On Monday, September 14, the Calcutta High Court urged parents who can afford to pay the original school fees not to take advantage of the waivers proposed by school committees. This would enable schools to pass on the financial relief to parents who need it more on case-to-case basis.

The High Court also suggested that three parents, who will be part of the school fee committees, shall be decided by lottery. 

Six CNI schools appealed that they be exempted from submitting their school accounts to the HC-appointed two-member committee, to which the HC said these schools can “form a committee on similar lines” and suggest whether any concession can be granted.

The CNI schools include La Martiniere Schools, St James, Pratt Memorial, St Thomas Howrah, St John’s Diocesan School — had moved the Supreme Court and appealed that as minority unaided institutions they enjoy special status. They also stated that they should not be asked to reveal their accounts to the HC appointed expert committee.

The HC said that “the accounts of such schools need not be presented before any expert committee set up by this court but the individual parent-teacher committee of the individual school may suggest the extent of concession and the same may be accepted by the court”.

The HC will hear the case on September 16.

The CNI schools have further told the court that they have already given concessions in fees to students and not a single student has been debarred from classes for non-payment. Although many students are yet to pay the reduced fees according to the court’s orders.

The HC is presently hearing a PIL by Vineet Ruia to look into concessions in school fees that can be extended to parents as they are facing financial hardships amid pandemic.

Source: Times of India

Read: Supreme Court refuses to hear parents’ plea for school fees waiver

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