Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 11: A local court has directed a school to immediately allow one of its students who was barred from attending the online classes due to non-payment of dues to attend her online classes, while also directing the school authorities to hold additional classes for her as compensation.
A Small Causes Court in Srinagar issued the directions after a petition was filed by a class 6 student of Minto Circle Secondary School, Alochi Bagh Srinagar after she was removed from a WhatsApp group which the school was operating to impart online education to the students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the petitioner was removed from the group, her father promptly contacted the concerned teacher who told him that she is being barred from getting an online education and is being removed from the group due to the non-clearance of pending dues.
The father of the plaintiff requested the school authorities to grant some time for the payment of the pending fee of three months but they did not pay any heed to the requests.
“It is submitted that the competent authority has issued circular regarding payment of schools fee and moreover, it is a fundamental right of the plaintiff to receive education from any recognized school but the school authorities violated the circular and right to education of the applicant,” the court said.
The court observed that the plaintiff has made out a prima facie case at this stage and the balance of convenience also appears in favour of the grant of interim relief. “Further, in case the interim relief is not granted at this juncture, the applicant appears to suffer irreparable loss,” the court said.
“The non-applicants are directed to restore the online education of the plaintiff/applicant,” the court ordered.
Besides, the court stated that the non-applicants shall ensure due compliance to the circular…issued by Principal Secretary to Government Education Department…and that the plaintiff is not deprived of her precious right to education on any ground.
“The non-applicants are further directed to compensate the education of the plaintiff which she missed due to the removal of the applicant from the Apps used by the school for imparting online education by holding additional classes,” the court directed the school authorities.
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