The High Court has stressed the need for a mechanism to redress the complaints of fee hike in unaided schools.
The court, while passing an order on petition filed by five students of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir, Panangad, Ernakulam, observed that there was no mechanism in the State to address complaints regarding fee hike. Education was a charitable activity. Both the provider and the beneficiary should keep this in mind. There could not be any element of profit except for the development of the school infrastructure.
The court further observed that it was for the State to evolve a mechanism to regulate fee structure. No court could determine the fee that could be collected by the school authorities. It had to be determined based on the facilities and infrastructure provided by each institution.
The court pointed out that the State had the legislative power under the Constitution to make laws related to education. It included the power to regulate the fee levied by educational institutions.
The court directed the school authorities to readmit the expelled students immediately in view of the submission by their parents that they were willing to pay the raised fee.
The students were expelled following a dispute between the parents and the school authorities over fee hike.
The court said parents resorting to dharna or creating a ruckus in school was not the remedy for the issue of fee hike.
