The Jaipur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court ordered the State Government to issue guidelines on the payment of interim fees by October 28, 2020, at the latest, considering the difficulty faced by private schools in the midst of rampant demands to cut school fees.
In a batch of appeals filed by private schools, on the issue of payment of school fees amid suspension of physical classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The order was passed by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Satish Kumar Sharma.
"Considering the hardship of the private schools, it is directed that the State Government shall issue necessary directions by 28.10.2020 positively regarding interim fees which the private schools shall be allowed to charge subject to a final decision in this regard," the Bench ordered.
Considerably, a Committee for the determination of fees to be paid by private schools for the lockdown period has already been formed by the State Government. The Court has been told that this Committee is in the process of finalizing its recommendations and that an affidavit is to be lodged on behalf of the Government of the State on 2 November 2020.
Senior Advocate Kamlakar Sharma shared her reservations about the organizational difficulties of private schools at this juncture, prompting the Court to follow this interim direction.
