Nine schools across Tamil Nadu in trouble for asking 100% fees – Times of India

CHENNAI: Sending a strong message to schools that demand 100% fees from parents thereby flouting court orders, the Madras high court initiated suo motu contempt of court proceedings against nine private schools in the state.
The nine schools are — PSBB Millenium CBSE School, Coimbatore; PS Chidambara Nadar Senior Secondary School, Virudhunagar; Shatriya Vidyasala Matric Higher Secondary School, Virudhunagar; Shatriya Vidyasala Higher .Secondary School, Virudhunagar; Muslim Higher Secondary School, Ramanathapuram; Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Seconday School, Paramakkudi; SHNV Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Sivakasi; Sri Shankara Vidya Kendriya Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Thiruvottriyur; and Hussain Memorial Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambattur.
On July 17, Justice N Anand Venkatesh had fixed 75% of last year’s fees as the tentative fee for the present academic year and permitted private educational institutions to collect 40% of it by August 31.
Subsequently, the court was informed that many schools were flouting the court order and were demanding 100% fees. The court directed the school education department to inquire and file a report.
When the pleas came up for hearing on Wednesday, the school education department filed a report with supporting documents and submitted that nine schools have been found violating the court order.
“After scrutinizing all the complaints received by the chief educational officers, a prima facie material is available against nine schools, who have insisted in payment of 100% fees which is in direct violation of the orders passed by this court,” advocate-general Vijay Narayan said.
He said as and when any complaints are received, the same will be inquired and principal secretary of the school education department will ensure that schools under the state government complied with the interim order passed by this court.
Recording the submissions, the judge said, “This court had made it clear even at the time of passing the interim order that any school that is found violating the order will be dealt with sternly in accordance with law.”
It was also indicated that contempt proceedings will be initiated against the persons in-charge of the schools which violate the order.
The prima facie material available is enough for the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the nine schools, Justice Anand Venkatesh said while directing the registry to initiate the proceedings and issue notices to the correspondents of the schools returnable by October 14.
This apart, in a separate proceeding, the judge directed the CBSE to open a new email account for parents to send complaints of fee violation in CBSE schools and give it wide publicity.