Delhi Government derecognises Mount Carmel School, Dwarka over non-refund of 'excess fee'

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 7: Delhi government's Directorate of Education (DoE) issued an order to withdraw its recognition given to Mount Carmel School, Dwarka over non-refunding of the excess fee charged from students between 2006 and 2011. The school was charged for increasing the tuition fee without prior approval of the department and non-compliance with terms of land allotment. The school termed the 25% rise in fee as an arbitrary fee hike during 2016-17 academic session.

The school cited that it had not been allotted land at concessional rates by DDA and so was not liable under the DoE’s power to regulate fee. However, the DoE showed the allotment letter mentioning about the land given to school at concessional rates. The school also argued that it was exempt from the regulation being a minority institute.

Under the Delhi School Education Act and Rules, 1973, the order said that DoE was left with no option but to withdraw the recognition given to the school. The government also issued notices to three other schools ordering then to refund the excess fee charged along with 9% interest. The other three schools are Bal Bharati, Dwarka; St. Marks Senior Secondary School, Meera Bagh and Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan.

The withdrawal of recognition would be implemented from April 1, 2019. The schools are strictly advised not to conduct any admissions for the academic session 2019-20 in the meantime.