Over 400 private schools warned to refund excess fee charged

Delhi Government has warned over 400 private schools in the national capital which were found to be charging extra fee, to refund the extra amount charged within 15 days.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) had in October last year directed 472 schools to refund the amount within 15 days. However, till now only 43 schools have complied with the order.

A committee headed by Justice Anil Dev Singh had identified 472 schools to be overcharging parents on the pretext of implementing recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission while not doing the same.

The panel was constituted last year following the Delhi High Court's order and has so far submitted nine interim reports to be implemented by the principals of schools.

"As per the reports received , merely 43 schools out of 472 schools identified to refund excess fees in JADSC's eight interim reports have complied with the order. The defaulter unaided recognised schools are directed to comply with the directive and submit a status report within 15 days," a DoE communication issued today said.

According to the directive, schools that have charged excess fee to implement 6th Pay Commission but have not implemented the same are supposed to make the payments to its staff as per the commission recommendations, out of excess fee collected, with 9 per cent interest, without further raising any fresh demand from the parents or students.

"And if after implementing the 6th CPC in the school, there still remains excess money charged from the students/ parents by such school, it shall be refunded to the concerned person," the circular said.

While 472 schools were identified in the committee's eight interim reports, in the ninth report which was submitted to the High Court on December 30, the committee had identified 53 more schools as defaulters under the category.

The committee has so far submitted recommendations on 1,066 schools.