HC directs Private Schools in to reduce Tuition Fees by 20% amid COVID-19 Pandemic

On Tuesday, the High Court of Calcutta directed private Schools in West Bengal to reduce the tuition fees by 20% for the Coronavirus pandemic period. As per the Court's directive, the schools have been asked not to charge fees under the non-academic head.

The HC's order will be applicable for all Non-Govt aided Schools in the State. The directive came following a Public Interest Litigation filed by a guardians’ forum of nearly 145 schools in Kolkata & its surrounding areas.

A 3-Member committee was also constituted by the Court to look into all the matters related to school fees & other grievances, in case the schools don’t follow the directive in terms of granting relief as appealed by the guardians’ forum.

Those guardians who need more relief (more than as directed by the court) in terms of tuition fees will have to approach their children’s schools individually.

Earlier, in May 2020, a plea was filed in the High Court of Calcutta seeking directions to the Govt of Bengal to regulate the fee structure of unaided private schools. Following which, State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee had requested all private schools not to increase fees due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The petitioner had further requested the court to direct the West Bengal Govt to ensure that no late fines should be charged & no additional fees should be imposed on guardians during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

They also pleaded before the Court to intervene so that no student’s name should be struck off because of late payment of fees. 

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