Fee structure display: HC summons principal secretary

The Karnataka High Court has directed the Principal Secretary, Department Primary and Secondary Education, to be present before the court and inform as to why a centralised fee structure cannot be implemented for admission into private aided schools in the next date of hearing.

A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Amrutesh N P, an advocate who had moved the court challenging the non-implementation of a government circular directing all schools in the state to display all details pertaining to the school, including fee structure and facilities offered, on their notice boards.

The petitioner had sought for directions to the commissioner, Department of Public Instruction, to implement the circular dated April 13, 2015, and to ensure the publication of fee structure on all private unaided school premises and also take action against school managements who have failed to implement the same.

The commissioner then submitted an affidavit to the court stating that he had addressed letters to all deputy directors of public instructions of the respective districts in the state bringing to their notice, the requirement of the publication of fee structures as per Rule 10(4) of the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Classifications, Regulation, etc) Rules 1995 in all private unaided schools of the state.

The affidavit also states that following this all the deputy directors of public instructions of the respective districts have submitted an affidavit complying with the same.

The affidavit further states that the state with effect from 18 May 2018, has substituted a new Rule 4 of Karnataka Educational Institutions (Regulation of certain fees and donations) Rules 1999 which requires private unaided educational institutions to disclose details pertaining to fee structure of ensuing calendar year, audit report of its finances in its previous financial year, details of teaching resources, result in public examination and statement showing computation and compliance of fee structure as per rules.

Details to be disclosed

These details have to be disclosed on the website of the Primary and Secondary Education department. Also a draft notification has been published by the government inviting objections to prescribe the mode of publishing the information on public domain.

The petitioner has contended that that despite the issuing of this circular, the private school managements in the state have not taken any interest in displaying the particulars about their school.

Following this, the petitioner had approached the court. The court adjourned the hearing to April 23.