‘Consider individual grievances of the parents’: Karnataka High Court on Regulation of Tuition Fee

The State Authorities have been directed by the Karnataka High Court to refrain from taking any coercive steps against the Association of Indian Schools for any breaches of the government order. The order mandated the collection of only 70% tuition fees for the academic year 2020-21 (Association of India Schools v. the State of Karnataka).

With a view to striking a balance, the Court opined that the Institutions that are affiliated to the ICSE and CBSE Boards—in the matter of prescription or regulating of tuition fee—must consider the grievance of the parents, which is a genuine concern in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the citizens of this Country and caused severe damage to their livelihood and consequently, the income of the family. 

Justice R Devdas, said the Educational institutions should rise to the occasion. Therefore, while directing the Authorities not to take coercive steps, the Court implored upon the management of the Institutions affiliated to the ICSE and CBSE Boards and the petitioner-Association to voluntarily issue notices on their notice Boards that they would consider individual grievances of the parents. He asked the Institution to not insist upon the payment of full school fees in the light of the genuine grievances raised by the parents and to consider the grievance of the parents in the matter of payment of school fee on case by case basis.

The matter is going to be re-listed for hearing on 24.03.2021