Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 10: The Fee Fixation Committee (FFRC) issued a directive today to the management of Delhi Public School (DPS), instructing them not to impose fees that are not allowed, particularly capitation and admission fees, and to promptly refund any such fees already charged.
These directives were given during a meeting involving DPS School parents, school management, and the FFRC chairperson. The meeting aimed to address parents’ concerns, but the parents expressed dissatisfaction with how the meeting was conducted and its outcomes.
Parents had raised concerns about a reported 60 percent increase in tuition fees by the school and the imposition of various other fees that are not permissible under the law.
They viewed these actions as a display of authority by the school management despite clear directives from the FFRC.
Some aggrieved parents alleged that the FFRC chairperson exhibited bias towards the school management, recorded the names of parents in attendance, and forwarded them to the school management, potentially identifying complainants and causing harassment to their children.
They voiced their dissatisfaction with the meeting’s outcome and claimed that the phones of attending parents were confiscated.
Justice (Rtd) Sunil Hali, Chairperson of the FFRC, countered the parents’ claims of a 60 percent fee hike, asserting that the school had not raised fees for several months and had implemented a 5 percent annual increase, resulting in a total tuition fee increase of 20 percent over the past few years.
He clarified that the FFRC had not previously structured the school’s fees, and their file was pending review. He explained, “Now, over the last four years, there has been an increase of just 20 percent.”
Justice (Rtd)Hali further elaborated that the FFRC had introduced three fee slabs for annual charges, and fees would be assessed accordingly.
He stressed that the school was not permitted to charge impermissible fees such as capitation fees, admission fees, or any security deposits, and any such fees must be refunded.
Vijay Dhar, Vice Chairman of DPS, acknowledged the need to address parental concerns while emphasizing that there had been only a 20 percent fee increase. He pointed out that the school had refrained from raising fees for nearly five years and that the recent increase fell within legally acceptable limits.
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