The Delhi government is planning to take over 449 private unaided recognised schools which have failed to refund excess fee charged by them despite government order.
The government has proposed to take over the management of the schools. A show cause notice will also be issued to the schools faltered in refunding excessively charged fees from the parents. Delhi’s lieutenant governor Anil Baijal has also approved the proposal.
“These schools have been sent notices in the past, yet they are not complying. We have two options as per rules. Either take over the school or derecognise them. The second option will leave hundreds of students without a school so the government has decided to take them over,” said Atishi Marlena, adviser to education minister Manish Sisodia.
According to Marlena, 449 schools including the top private schools of Delhi, have to refund over Rs 300 crore to the parents.
After some parents through, an NGO, approached The Delhi High Court constituted constituted Justice Anil Dave Singh committee in 2009 after some parents approached the court through an NGO – Delhi Abhibhavak Mahasangh. The committee aims to determine the need for fee hike and for examining the records and accounts of unaided private recognised schools.
The committee in its 10 interim reports and monthly reports of June 2016 to October 2016 recommended refund of the excess fee charged from the parents, in addition with 9% interest per annum. The committee also recommended special inspection of 249 schools on the grounds of non-production of relevant documents or incomplete documents.
Marlena said the schools need to reply to the show cause notices within two months and comply with the orders. “Otherwise after two weeks, Delhi government will take over these schools,” she said.
