Anglo-Indian schools cannot collect fees above fixed sum: HC

Updated on: Thursday, August 04, 2011

The Madras High Court has held that an Anglo-Indian school, having been recognised as per the code of regulations laid down for such schools by Tamil Nadu, was bound by such rules and could not collect fees in excess to that fixed by the competent state authority.

In a recent ruling, Justice Paul Vasanthakumar, disposing off a petition filed by a class II student, represented by his father, who was told by a city Anglo-Indian School that he would be issued a transfer certificate if the fee sought by the school was not paid, said the school was not justified in compelling the boy to pay fees fixed by it under any name, pending finalisation of the fee structure by the competent committee.

Directing the school to receive the existing fee fixed by the committee and permit the boy to attend classes immediately, the judge also directed the student's father to give an undertaking to the school management to pay the enhanced fees, if increased by the committee.

"The attitude of the 5th respondent (the school) in not permitting the petitioner to attend the school for over two weeks is not proper," said the court.

"It has forced the second standard student, aged about 7 years, to write a complaint against the management and ultimately be compelled to knock the doors of this court to continue his education," the judge pointed out.

The student's father had submitted that he requested the school to receive the fee amount of Rs 7,500 payable for 2011-12, but the institution refused to accept the amount and instead threatened to issue the transfer certificate if an amount of Rs 15,590 was not paid.

The Additional Government Pleader, P Sanjay Gandhi, said the school could not collect fees more than what had been fixed by the competent committee.

Anglo-Indian schools cannot collect fees above fixed sum: HC

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