Don't hike fees till August 22: HC to private schools on DDA land

The Delhi High Court today told several unaided private schools not to hike fees till August 22 and to submit their account details to the Delhi government by then for permission for effecting a raise. The direction by Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva came on the plea of an association claiming to represent about 450 private unaided schools who had sought three more months to submit the documents, the last date for which was July 31.

These schools were allotted land by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) at concessional rates and under the allotment conditions, they have to take permission from the Directorate of Education (DoE) before hiking fees.

This position had been upheld by the high court on January 19 this year and a review plea by the association against that decision was dismissed on July 27, 2016.

The association, Action Committee Unaided Recognised Private Schools, sought more time to file the documents on the ground that its review plea was dismissed on July 27 and the last date was July 31.

Advocate Santosh Tripathi, appearing for DoE, opposed the plea for extension of time saying the schools had time from January this year to prepare the accounts and submit them and one extension was granted by the court on May 31.

DoE also said if more time were to be granted, then there was apprehension that the schools would also charge arrears for the extended duration once the fees were hiked.

To this, the association said the fees of last year would be charged till DoE takes a decision.

In its January 19 decision, the High Court had held that private unaided schools which were allotted land by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) have to take prior government sanction before hiking fees.

It had directed the Delhi government’s DoE to ensure compliance with the terms in letter of allotment regarding increase of fees by recognised private unaided schools on land alloted by DDA, which in turn was asked to take appropriate action against violation of the stipulation.

The judgement had come on a PIL filed by an NGO, Justice for All, which had sought that the recognised private unaided schools on land alloted by DDA be directed to abide by the stipulation in letter of allotment to take prior sanction of DoE before hiking their fees.