The father of a Class III student at a private school in the city has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court, accusing the school management of collecting fees from him ever since the child joined pre-kindergarten class in academic year 2013-14 although he was admitted under the 25% quota meant for the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act of 2009.
The petitioner, K. Naresh Babu, alleged that a private higher secondary school in Mylapore had been collecting fees not only from him but also from parents of other students admitted under the RTE quota stating that the money would be returned as and when the State government compensates the school.
Now, he sought for a direction to the school to refund the fees collected from him, along with interest at the rate of 12% a year.
In his affidavit, the petitioner said he belonged to a Scheduled Caste and did not have regular income. One of his two sons suffered from Down Syndrome and therefore, in his eagerness to make his second son study well, got him admitted in a neighbourhood school, situated within 500 m, in Pre-KG in 2013-14.
The admission was processed under the RTE quota.
However, since the school insisted that the fees should be paid by parents at the first instance and get it refunded after receipt of government grants, the petitioner said he paid the fees.
