Resume student's online classes, High Court tells Panchkula school

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 7

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed a Panchkula school to resume online classes of a Class IV girl student, whose studies were allegedly disrupted following non-payment of a component of the fee. Coming to the girl’s rescue, Justice Sudhir Mittal also issued a notice of motion to the state of Haryana, the school and other respondents.

Appearing before the Bench, counsel Amar Vivek Aggarwal contended that the petitioner was not permitted to attend online classes and take examination as a certain component of the fee had not been paid. The facility of online classes was not resumed, even though the “component” was paid under protest. He added that the official respondents had failed to take any action despite repeated representations.

Giving details, Aggarwal added that the classes were arbitrarily and illegally discontinued by the school from November 10, 2021. The student’s legal and fundamental right to education was infringed in the process and studies obstructed. The counsel argued that the levy of “other charges” was illegal once the tuition fee, as demanded, had been paid. When the petitioner’s parents sought details, they were not informed for several weeks. Thereafter, the school disconnected her online classes. He added the school, under the Right to Education Act, 2009, could not deny the regular studies to the student.