Delhi Govt directs private schools to refund excess fee with 9% interest

NEW DELHI, MAY 25: In a major move against arbitrary fee hike by private schools, the Delhi Government has asked over 500 of these schools to refund the excess fee charged by them from parents. Further, the schools have also been directed to pay an additional 9 per cent interest on the excess fee collected between June 2016 to January 2018.

The decision was made following a report by a committee formed by the Delhi High Court to examine whether private schools were compliant with the 6th Pay Commission recommendations. As per reports, the Delhi Government had asked for the audit of over 1700 private schools after receiving reports that the schools were  arbitrarily hiking fees without raising the salaries of teachers. The panel has audited more than 1100 schools by far. The 575 schools have been asked to reimburse the amount to parents within seven working days. The Directorate of Education (DoE) Delhi, has also ordered the schools to pay salaries to the teachers in compliance with Section 10 of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973.

“The committee has identified 575 schools in its report to refund excess fees charged by these schools with 9 per cent interest. The schools are directed to refund the fees within 7 days and ensure disbursal of pending payment of salaries if any,” an order by Directorate of Education said.

Reacting to the decision, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "For the first time in the country, schools are being disciplined. They are not being allowed to hike fees arbitrarily. Many schools are being made to return hiked fees. Because there is an honest government in Delhi."