KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed all private schools in the metropolitan to issue fee challans in accordance with the fees structure fixed by the Sindh government, according to which the increase of tuition fee by more than five per cent was barred.
An SHC bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi was hearing the case of alleged non-implementation of court orders regarding the increase in annual tuition fees filed by many parents of students.
The court reiterated that the SHC, on September 3, had declared an increase of more than five per cent in private school tuition fees as illegal.
During the hearing, the parents of students enrolled in different schools informed the bench that the schools were still charging a tuition fee between Rs27000 to Rs34000.
In response, City School’s lawyer denied the claim and said that it was false news. Lawyers of Beacon House School, City School and Generation School then submitted revised fee challans with the data for all the campuses of the schools, giving an assurance that their clients had started the implementation of the court’s order.
However, the lawyers admitted to not having knowledge about charges other than tuition fees in response to the court’s inquiry about the miscellenous fees and sought more time to submit a reply regarding the matter.
Justice Abbasi expressed his doubts over the compliance of court orders by private schools and remarked that institutions which defy the court’s orders would be closed.
The bench was further informed that students who were not able to pay heavy tuition and examination fees were asked to sit-out the exams instead after which the SHC ordered the schools’ management to allow them to take the exams.
The court adjourned hearing till January 14.
