Unjustified fees
Abhimanyu Gupta
(Querist) 17 July 2020
This query is : Resolved
My college is charging ₹1,85,000 for the coming semester which would be going to be completely online. There would be no infrastructure expenses(electricity, labs, maintenance ...) in this semester, yet rather than decreasing the fee, they increased it by ₹10,000 from last semester.
When asked to give fee break up, they also denied it.
What should I do?
Rajendra K Goyal
(Expert) 17 July 2020
During this hard time of COVID-19 such difficulty is being faced by most of the students. Any legal step may not succeed. Approach jointly for administrative directives for relief.
kavksatyanarayana
(Expert) 17 July 2020
Consult your college Administrator with your other classmates and collegemates.
Dr J C Vashista
(Expert) 18 July 2020
The college is charging same fees from all the students in similar circumstances which may be challanged before appropriate forum/ court, if all of you feel it is unethical, illegal and/ or arbitrary.
Abhimanyu Gupta
(Querist) 18 July 2020
Dr J C Vashista, is there any specific clause or act which stops educational bodies to increase the fee in special circumstances like this ongoing COVID19 crises?
I can see there are notifications from the government to not increase the fee for Delhi schools(even private) and central government colleges. But couldn't find any such for general masses.
P. Venu
(Expert) 18 July 2020
Such matters have already reached courts, but no definite ruling is forthcoming. The concerned students may join together and take up the issue with the college management as well the authorities concerned. The High Court could also be approached in a Writ Petition, if so advised.
Rajendra K Goyal
(Expert) 19 July 2020
Some state governments have issued directions in regard to increase / charging lockdown period fee. Please confirm in respect of your state.
While HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal had in April asked private schools to reconsider their decisions on annual fee hikes and collecting quarterly fees during the coronavirus lockdown, there has been no uniformity on the subject across states.
At least nine states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra and Odisha, have issued notifications to the schools in their jurisdiction, with varying relief — some allowing deferment of quarterly fees and others waiving fees except those specifically under tuition.
Please visit:
https://theprint.in/judiciary/school-fee-payment-plea-reaches-sc-a-look-at-how-12-hcs-ruled-on-the-issue-since-april/454614/
