— Law sec informs court stakeholders have reached consensus
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday directed a committee to regularise fee structures in private schools as the top court heard a suo motu case pertaining to fee hikes in private academic institutions.
As a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) heard the case, the chief justice was vexed at the committee probing the issue and asserted that he will head the committee itself.
“Parents have to cut corners as private schools keep on increasing fees,” the top judge said, adding that all stakeholders need to sit together and reach consensus.
“The remaining issues can be resolved in court.”
The law secretary appeared in court and informed the bench that private school owners were reluctant to discuss the matter and wanted to increase the fee by 8 to 10 percent.
In response, Justice Ijazul Ahsan said that only a forensic audit of private schools’ earnings could decide if their demands were legitimate and if the fee hike should be implemented.
The law secretary informed the court that stakeholders have already reached somewhat of a consensus.
The court then directed the committee, which is headed by a federal ombudsman and includes former attorney general Makhdoom Ali Khan, to regularise the matter by determining the need and frequency for fee hikes.
The federal ombudsman and the auditor general were also summoned in court.
