fee panel to tighten noose around private schools Won’t Allow Arbitrary Hike: Justice Nazki Umer Maqbool Srinagar, July 4: In a decision that could bring relief to thousands of parents in Jammu and Kashmir, the newly- constituted Fee Structure Panel is all set to issue a circular next week to put freeze on hiking of fee by more than 5000 private educational institutions of the State. Holding that seeking donations and charging capitation fee from students is illegal in light of a Supreme Court direction, the Committee observed; “it will have a final say on deciding fee proposed by private schools of the State”. “After the constitution of the Committee, the schools cannot increase fee without prior approval from the panel. And in this context, the committee will issue a circular within next few days,” Justice (retd) Bilal Nazki, who was appointed head of the Committee, told Greater Kashmir on Thursday. “Our direc on Thursday. “Our direc Greater Kashmir - tions are binding on all private educational institutions of the State,” he said. The fee panel headed by Nazki was constituted by the School Education Department in May this year following a direction from the High Court. Nazki was nominated as the head of the panel by Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, MM Kumar. Nazki said private educational institutions have to justify before the panel the fee charged by them. “If anybody has issues about existing fee structure or related matters of any school, he/she should approach us. We will look into the matter and decide accordingly,” he said. He added that the panel’s mandate is not only confined to fee structure “but ensuring quality education in private educational institutions is also our domain.” Nazki, who retired as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, said all private schools should place their proposed fee structure before the panel for approval. “As per the Apex Court direction, all private educational institutions must place their proposed fee structure before the panel. The panel would decide on the proposal keeping in mind the infrastructure and facilitates available, the investments made, salaries paid to the teachers and staff, future plans for expansion and/or betterment of the institute,” he said, adding that the panel is empowered to take a final call on deciding the fee and “we will ensure that no capitation fee is charged from parents. “The Apex Court makes it clear that once fees are fixed, the schools cannot charge anything above the amount fixed ther
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 10:22:56 +0000