Himachal Pradesh High Court restrains Lawrence School from receiving fees

Shimla, July 15

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has restrained the prestigious Lawrence School at Sanawar in Kasauli hills from receiving additional fees for holding virtual classes owing to the pandemic.

It directed the Education Secretary and the headmaster to file a reply before the next date of hearing on July 20. The order was passed on the petition of Deepak Gupta.

The petitioner said the school demanded a total fee of Rs 636,200 in January. The first installment of Rs 401,700 was paid before February 15. The second installment of Rs 234,500 was to be paid on or before July 15. He said the school opened on February 15 but the child was taken back home on March 17 due to the pandemic.

The petitioner said the Higher Education Department on May 27 directed the private schools not to charge any fee, except tuition fee, and the tuition fee could not be collected on a quarterly basis. Nearly 140 parents sent a digitally-signed representation, requesting the school for fee waiver. Ignoring it, the school on July 3 demanded Rs 170,800, instead of Rs 234,500 from the parents. — IANS