Punjab seeks recalling of school fee order

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 8

Just over a fortnight after the Punjab and Haryana High Court made it clear that 70 per cent of the total school fee would be charged during the lockdown, the Punjab Government today sought recalling and modification of the order.

“There is particularly no question of financial hardship since non-applicants (schools) who are imparting online classes can continue to charge fee in respect of such classes. The only restriction is on charging miscellaneous expenses such as meal charges, transportation charges etc. This also be seen in the context of the fact that schools more than often outsource their transportation services to private contractors under a contract renewable from time to time, and thus would not directly be affected…,” the application filed by the state government read.

Punjab Advocate-General Atul Nanda, during the course of hearing, was asked by the Bench to intervene for resolving the issue. Justice Ritu Bahri observed it would be in the best interests of all parties if the matter could be resolved before the next date of hearing on June 12.

In a communication to the parties concerned, Nanda asserted: “In due deference to the observation made by the Hon’ble Judge, I am desirous of holding a meeting between all the stakeholders on June 9 at 10 am in AG Camp Office in order to try and resolve the issue.”

Some of the arents had earlier filed applications for intervention in the matter pending before Single Bench. Among other things, the parents were claiming that the schools were not allowing the students to attend online classes in the absence of payment of fee.

In one of the applications filed through counsel Charanpal Singh Bagri, it was stated that the applicants had already send representation to the Punjab Government to amend its notification to the extent that the private unaided schools may only be permitted to charge tuition fee in accordance with actual lectures delivered per day.