Private schools cannot fix fee on their own: FFRC
Directs schools to provide fee break-up to parents
SRINAGAR, Sept 12: The Committee for Fixation and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools, J&K (FFRC) has stated that the schools cannot fix the fee on their own while directing the concerned schools to provide the annual breakup of the fee to the parents, and students without fail.
The FFRC said that the Supreme Court has already mandated that each educational institute must place its proposed fee structure before the Committee, well in advance of the academic year.
“The latest judgment of the Supreme Court of 2021 has also ruled that the Government can provide for an external regulatory mechanism for determination of school fee or for fixation of just and permissible school fee at the initial stage itself,” it said.
FFRC said that in most cases, in which the fee regulation order of FFRC has been stayed, they had approached FFRC for the first time.
“In these schools, in view of non-submission of proposed fee structure, and record to FFRC previously, the fee was not determined and regulated by FFRC in respect of previous academic sessions. In violation of judgments of the Supreme Court and the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh, and mandate of the law, such schools have fixed the fee structure themselves,” it said.
This act of such school managements, FFRC said, is illegal as fee structure has been fixed in breach of the mandate of the judgements of the Supreme Court and High Court and the statute occupying the fie1d. “Such fee structures cannot be recognized in law.”
The officials of the FFRC said that such types of schools have no authority in law to charge and collect fees fixed by themselves. “Such types of schools shall have to request the High Court to decide their writ petitions,” they said.
The FFRC said that keeping in abeyance fee regulation order of FFRC by the High Court, would not and shall not authorize school managements to fix fee structure at their sweet will and charge the same from students.
“No person can be permitted to abuse and misuse the process of Court to secure a legally impermissible benefit. Court orders protect legal rights and do not protect illegal acts,” it said, adding that such schools, in view of legal position, , in no circumstances, can fix fees themselves and charge and collect it from the students.
Meanwhile, in an order which has been issued by the FFRC today, it said that requests are being received from parents/stakeholders for providing details of fee structure of private schools while directing the management of private schools to provide details of fee structure including breakup of annual charges with expenditure details, whenever parents/Student approaches them without any fail.
“The matter was examined and it was observed that the Committee has fixed and regulated the fee of most of the private schools of UT of J&K and the same is available on the official website of FFRC and in respective schools.”
For details of breakup under different heads including annual charges, FFRC said, the stakeholders shall approach respective school managements. “In case there is violation of orders of FFRC by a particular school the parents/students may approach FFRC with a written complaint against such school.”
