-Reshma Ravishanker

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday disposed of petitions filed by the private school managements against the state government’s 30 % fee cut dikat. Drawing from a recent Supreme Court judgment, the high court said that schools can collect 85% of the fee for the academic year 2020-21.

The apex court in the Indian School Jodhpur vs State of Rajasthan case had asked schools to consider a 15% fee cut for the academic year 2020-21, implying that students would pay 85% of the previous year’s fee.

It may be recollected that on January 29, 2021, the state’s education department headed by former primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar had ordered a 30% fee cut across schools in the state citing that most parents’ incomes had been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This invited the wrath of private school managements who had taken to the streets in protest.

The matter was later placed before the High Court for resolution. The Karnataka government had also sought permission to constitute a fee regulatory committee to look into the issue annually.

The court, however, has not issued any order pertaining to the fee cut for the current academic year. However, it reinstated that no child shall be debarred, nor shall their results be withheld on grounds of non-payment of fee. “The school management shall not debar any student from attending either online or physical classes on account of non-payment of fees, arrears/outstanding fees including installments,” the court rules.

Shashi Kumar D, general secretary, Associated Managements of Private Schools in Karnataka welcomed the order and said this is a relief from getting into a crisis. He also said that those parents who are under genuine financial crisis can approach school managements.

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