Private schools under command to submit record for fixation/regulation of fee structure: FFRC

Srinagar, Dec 29 (UNI) Taking a strong note of the schools indulging in fee hike, the Committee for Fixation and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools J&K (FFRC), has said that all the educational institutions are “duty bound to submit their records” for regulating the few structure as laid down by the Supreme Court and High Court in its judgments.
The apex body to regulate the fee structure of the private schools operating in Jammu and Kashmir Committee has further directed that for seeking hike in any type of fee, the educational institutions are “under command” to approach the FFRC and get fee of each standard fixed.
These orders have been passed by the Chairperson, FFRC Justice (retired) Muzaffar Hussain Attar in a complaint by the parents association against a Minto Circle Higher Secondary School, Aloochi Bagh, Srinagar, a prominent private educational institution.
The FFRC has directed the said school to charge fee as it stood in August 2014 as the school had so far never submitted its record or approached the FFRC for fixation of fee structure of any standard.
“All Authorities and Chairperson, FFRC/ FFRC are duty bound to carry out the mandate contained in the judgments of Honourable the Supreme Court and High Court and are further duty bound to implement the law made in this behalf. In view of the law laid down by Hon’ble the Supreme Court in Islamic Academy of Education and … Vs. State of Karnataka and others (2003) 6 SCC 697, it becomes duty of each and every educational institution to submit its record to the FFRC for regulating its fee structure”, Justice Attar, Chairperson FFRC said in its judgment today.
“Furthermore, in view of the orders of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir referred to hereinabove, for seeking hike in any type of fee, the educational institution is under command to approach the FFRC and get fee of each standard fixed”, the FFRC Chairperson said, adding that “the statutory prescription carries forward the mandate contained in these judgements.”
Since the record shows that Minto Circle Higher Secondary School, Aloochi Bagh, Srinagar, has not at any point of time submitted its record for regulating its fee structure, the FFRC observed that the said school “ has thus violated the mandate contained in the Supreme Court and High Court judgement and has shown non-compliance of the statute, as well.”
The FFRC further observed that the J&K High Court in its judgement dated June 01, 2015 in PIL No.12/2014 has given liberty to managements of Un-aided Private Schools to approach the Committee for fixation of fee structure of each standard. It was also provided that “till new fee structure is fixed by the Committee, the management shall collect all types of fee as in August’ 2014”.
Stating that all authorities and Chairperson, FFRC/ FFRC are duty bound in law to obey the orders of Supreme Court and High Court and to follow the statute, Justice Attar in his judgement has said that since the school in question (Minto Circle ) has never submitted its record and/or sought fixation of fee structure of each standard, therefore , in view of the mandate contained in the judgement, the school management has to mandatorily collect all types of fee as it stood in August’ 2014.
In this regard, the Committee has directed that the authorities concerned of the Minto Circle Higher Secondary School “ shall charge and collect all types of fee as it stood in August’ 2014 and students/parents shall pay the fee accordingly”.
“The School Management shall display the fee structure viz; Tuition Fee and Annual Fee, as it stood in August’ 2014, on its notice board, within two (02) days time. The Collection of Annual Fee will be subject to the Government Circular No.01-Edu of 2020 dated 14.05.2020 and endorsed by FFRC in its meeting dated 18.03.2021”, it said, adding that “ charging and collecting of Admission Fee is barred by law of land.”
“ Any breach of this order, which implements only Supreme Court/ High Court judgments and statutes, will result in penal action, as also, recommendation for de-affiliation of the School”, it has warned.