SHC orders restoration of schoolchildren expelled over fee non-payment

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday directed management of private schools to restore the students expelled over non-payment of fee that was increased sharply and ordered to accept students’ examination forms.

A division bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi was hearing a petition filed by the parents of children studying in private schools who moved the court against managements for increasing fee more than five per cent in violation of the rules and regulations.

The court expressed displeasure when it was informed that some students were expelled from the private schools when their guardian refused to pay exorbitant fee. The administration of the school also did not accept the examination forms of the students, the lawyer said.

“How can students be expelled when the court has already stayed the fee increment,” the judges remarked.

However, the counsel repressing the private schools denied the claims and said there must be some misunderstanding as no student was expelled.

Directing the school managements to restore the expelled students to their original position against the payment of normal tuition fees which was being received before enhancement, the court ordered it to accept students’ examination forms.

The bench also extended its interim order that restrained private schools from raising their fee more than five per cent until February 15.

Earlier, the petitioners had submitted that the school management cannot increase the fee more than five per cent in an academic year as per rules; however, some private schools had increased the fee more than 10 per cent.

They prayed the court to direct the authorities concerned to restrain the school management from increasing fee and to follow the rules and regulations.