HC asks Govt to ensure Pvt. Schools don't cancel any admission for fee default post Lockdown

In a relief to many during this Covid-19 pandemic and post-lockdown situation, the Gujarat high court asked the state government to ensure that private schools do not cancel admissions of students whose parents fail to pay their fees by June 30, the deadline set by many schools.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice J B Pardiwala ordered the state government to intervene in the matter, in response to a PIL seeking various measures to protect the interests of students whose family incomes have been reduced and may be unable to pay school fees in a single go.

On resistance from the advocate general to intervening in this matter, the judges said, “We are conscious of the fact that the state government may not like to involve itself with the administration of private schools, but in the current scenario, we request the state government to work out some modalities with all private schools across the state of Gujarat…” The HC sought the government’s response to this by July 17, when the suo motu PIL will be heard further.

During the hearing, the judges told the state government that it can do anything to reach a balance between private schools demanding fees and parents who have suffered a loss in income.

The PIL urged the HC to direct education authorities to restrain schools from pressuring parents to pay tuition fees and to allow students to participate in online education.

The PIL also sought directions restraining schools from collecting full fees under the guise of online teaching, and to minimize the burden and hardship of parents by allowing them to pay fees on a monthly basis.

Patient’s death for lack of ventilator, HC directs action against Rajasthan Hospital

The High Court took suo motu cognizance of a news report on the death of Harish Kadiya outside Rajasthan Hospital, after he was shifted there from Life Care Hospital because he needed ventilator support. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation also issued notice to Rajasthan Hospital for this incident.

The HC observed, “It is very shocking to note that when the ambulance carrying the patient in a critical condition reached the main entrance of Rajasthan Hospital, the gate was not opened for almost 20 minutes.”

The court further said, “The first thing expected of the Rajasthan Hospital was to immediately shift the patient to the ICU and put him on a ventilator. All other formalities could have been taken care of at a later stage, including the requisite fees to be paid in advance.”

The HC was of the opinion that seeking merely seeking an explanation would not be suffice in this case and called for strict action. HC hopes walled city strategy will work for other areas.

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