MOUNT CARMEL SCHOOL ILLEGALLY HIKES FEE

To
The Director of Education,
Govt. of NCT of Delhi,
Old Secretariat Building,
Civil Lines, Delhi 54

Subject- Illegal and Arbitrary fee hike by Mount Carmel School

Dear Sir,

We have the honour to bring to your kind notice that the hapless parents of the students studying in Mount Carmel School, Anand Niketan A-21, New Delhi- 110021 have complained to me in writing that the management of the said school has issued a demand notice dated 15.12.2008 to all the parents of the students of the school whereby they have been directed to shell out thousands of rupees towards arrears of enhanced fees i.e. Rs. 550/- per month with effect from 1.4.2008 on account of increase in salary bill of the teachers due to implementation of sixth pay commission. Copies of the parents’ complaint dated 19.1.2009 and school’s demand notice dated 15.12.2008 are enclosed hereto for your ready reference.

The contents of the above referred school notice dated 15.12.2008 are reproduced as under: -

“Mount Carmel School
Recognised by Delhi Administration & Affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education
A-21, Anand Niketan, New Delhi- 110021

December 15, 2008
Dear Parent,

Kindly refer to our notice dated 7th April’08 and 27th September’08.

We have worked out the increase in the salary bill which comes to approx. 12 lakhs p.m. But dividing this by the full fee paying students i.e. 1944 we find a need for an increase of approx. Rs. 620/- p.m. to meet the current requirements. However, it has been decided to increase the tuition fees currently by 30% only i.e. Rs. 550/- only for the financial year 2008-2009.

Enclosed please find bill for 4th quarter at the new rate plus arrears of quarter 1,2 & 3. Fee for 4th quarter may be paid by 23rd January 2009 and the arrears be cleared latest be 28th February 2009 before the start of 2nd term examination. For class X and XII kindly clear dues by February 20th, 2009 before collection of Admit Card.

There will be no late fee fine charged upto 28th February 2009.

With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
Dr. V.K. Williams
Principal”


It is further brought to your notice that the school had earlier hiked the tuition fee on 1.4.2008 from Rs. 1650/- to Rs. 1800/- per month plus development fund from Rs. 165/- to Rs. 180/- per month (more than 10%). In terms of the aforesaid school notice dated 15.12.2008, the school has further hiked the tuition fee from Rs. 1800/- to Rs. 2350/- per month plus development fee from Rs. 180/- to Rs. 235/- per month (30%) with effect from 1.4.2008. Therefore, the total fee hiked is more than 40% in the current academic year of 2008-2009.

It is submitted that the school has hiked the fee without following the provisions of Delhi School Education Act, 1973 read with the directions having been given by the honourable Delhi High Court on 30.10.1998 in case of Delhi Abhibhavak Mahasangh v. Union of India and Ors. The parents are being forced by the school to deposit the fee at the increased rates as per school notice dated 15.12.2008.

That the aforesaid action and conduct of the school is illegal, arbitrary and amounts to commercialisation of education and warrants serious action. The fee hiked by the school is otherwise also unjust and unreasonable.

It is, therefore, requested that appropriate legal action on urgent basis may be taken against the school thereby preventing the school to charge fees and other charges from the parents at the increased rates in terms of the school notice dated 15.12.2008. It is also requested that the school may be directed to refund the access amounts to the parents who have already deposited with school the fee and other charges as per school notice dated 15.12.2008.




With regards,



Ashok Aggarwal, Advocate
Advisor, Social Jurist.
M- 09811101923