Maharashtra Government has been directed by the Bombay High Court to take a final decision on its school fee-hike policy by February 10, 2010. Since last date of filing suggestions and objections over Kumud Bansal committee report which has recommended autonomy to private unaided schools to determine their fees on the basis of facilities has been extended till December 25, the High Court granted time to Government.
A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Ajay Khanvilkar while hearing a bunch of petitions filed by aggrieved parents and managements challenging fee hike and justifying it respectively, stated that a detailed order would be passed after the process of inviting suggestions and objections are over and final decision is taken by the respondent-Government. The State Government submitted the draft proposals of Kumud Bansal committee set up to consider the fee hike issue. The committee has strongly recommended full autonomy to private unaided schools to fix fees and relied upon the Supreme Court judgements which time and again made it clear that private unaided educational institutions should be allowed to collect reasonable surplus, but ruled out capitation fee or profiteering. The committee has permitted that schools be allowed to generate surplus up to 15 per cent and has also suggested accreditation of schools and more transparency. Besides the school fee hike must be undertaken in consultation with the executive council of the respective Parent-Teachers’ Association (PTA). In case of dispute, a statutory committee to be headed by retired High Court judge can hear the disputes. However, the parent-representatives on this committee in their dissent notes had opposed fee hike as recommended by a majority of members. They had slammed draft report and dubbed it as pro-management and a license to fleece hapless parents.
A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Ajay Khanvilkar while hearing a bunch of petitions filed by aggrieved parents and managements challenging fee hike and justifying it respectively, stated that a detailed order would be passed after the process of inviting suggestions and objections are over and final decision is taken by the respondent-Government. The State Government submitted the draft proposals of Kumud Bansal committee set up to consider the fee hike issue. The committee has strongly recommended full autonomy to private unaided schools to fix fees and relied upon the Supreme Court judgements which time and again made it clear that private unaided educational institutions should be allowed to collect reasonable surplus, but ruled out capitation fee or profiteering. The committee has permitted that schools be allowed to generate surplus up to 15 per cent and has also suggested accreditation of schools and more transparency. Besides the school fee hike must be undertaken in consultation with the executive council of the respective Parent-Teachers’ Association (PTA). In case of dispute, a statutory committee to be headed by retired High Court judge can hear the disputes. However, the parent-representatives on this committee in their dissent notes had opposed fee hike as recommended by a majority of members. They had slammed draft report and dubbed it as pro-management and a license to fleece hapless parents.
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