Few schools gave capitation fee information

Updated on: Thursday, May 05, 2011

The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court on Monday that of the 19 international schools against which it had initiated an inquiry on allegations of charging capitation fees, only nine have provided information till date.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice D G Karnik was further informed that four international schools have provided partial information, whereas six schools have not given any information at all.

Additional government pleader Anjali Helekar made the statement on Monday while the court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Forum for Fairness in Education, a city-based NGO.

The PIL alleges that several private international schools charge capitation fees in addition to hefty fees. Last month, the government had initiated an inquiry against 19 international schools named in the PIL.

The court has now directed the advocate for the petitioner, A L Gore, whether the NGO has made a comparative study in terms of education provided by international and other schools.

“Have you made a comparative study with other schools? The education given here (international schools) may be different from that given in other schools,” remarked Justice Karnik.

The judges also observed that the schools may be charging more fees for the facilities provided by them in addition to the varied syllabus taught by them.

“Someone may want to study in air-conditioned classes,” said the chief justice.

Gore told the court that there should be some control somewhere. He even pointed out that the government was asked to submit report on these 19 schools by April 30. Helekar informed the court that some of the schools have not provided information as they have not been made respondents.

The judges observed that they would first go through the government report and then decide whether there was a need to join the schools as respondents to the PIL and issue notices. The court has asked the government to complete its inquiry and submit a report on the 19 schools by June 28.

The petitioner NGO has alleged that despite there being a special Act - the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Capitation Fee) Act - to deal with educational institutions demanding capitation fees, the government does not take any action.

Few schools gave capitation fee information

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