Parents to challenge move to collect fee

Chennai

Noting that he intends to move a plea on behalf of the parents opposing collection of fees, advocate M Purushothaman made an urgent mention that the government had arrived at a decision without consulting the parents.

Citing CBSE bylaws, he submitted that private educational institutions were mandated to maintain 15 per cent of the fee as reserve funds, to be used during exigencies like the COVID-19 lockdown.

Besides, the salary component of these institutions was less than one-fourth of the fees and hence even if they were permitted to collect fees, only the salary component should be collected, Purushothaman added.

However, acknowledging his mention, Justice Anand Venkatesh pointed out that the pleas moved by the private institutes were adjourned to July 17 based on Advocate General’s submission that the government was set to pass orders soon.

The judge then sought the parents to make their representation to the Advocate General enabling its consideration by July 17. The government had filed an affidavit on July 10 that educational institutions would be permitted to collect fees in three equal instalments in August and December, and April 2021.