Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 28: The chairperson Fee Fixation Committee for Private Schools (FFRC) Justice (Retd) Sunil Hali, has given Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School, Rajbagh last opportunity to explain their position before it by May 2nd for allegedly charging excessive transportation fees from their students.
The committee had received a complaint from a parent regarding the school’s transportation fees of Rs 1480 per month.
After issuing notices to the school management, the committee allowed a 14% hike in fees in October 2022 after discussions with the school and other stakeholders. However, the FFRC said the school was still charging Rs 1480 per month.
The FFRC had issued a notice to the school management to appear before the committee on April 26, 2023, to explain their position.
However, the school management responded that the matter was pending in a court of law, which was irrelevant to the present proceedings.
The committee clarified that the law would take its course, and the explanation provided by the school was not applicable to the present context.
The committee also clarified that the order issued in October 2022 regarding the fixation of transport charges applied to all schools providing transportation facilities, including those that outsourced the service.
The school had charged Rs 4900 for two months, as per the receipt issued, despite the order of the committee.
The FFRC has now given the school one last opportunity to appear before the committee to explain its position. Failure to do so would amount to violating the committee’s orders, and the school would face the consequences provided under the law, including a fine.