575 private schools directed to refund excess fee charged across National Capital

The Delhi government directed as many as 575 private schools across the national Capital to refund the excess fees charged by them citing implementation of the 6th Pay Commission recommendations.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has directed the schools to refund the excess fees charged -- between June 2016 to January 2018 -- with 9 per cent interest. The move is followed by the report of a committee constituted by the Delhi High Court for examining the records of private schools. "The committee has identified 575 schools in its report to refund excess fees charged by these schools with 9 per cent interest. The schools are directed to refund the fees within 7 days and ensure disbursal of pending payment of salaries if any," an order by the Directorate of Education (DoE) said.

"Non-compliance with the order shall be viewed seriously and action shall be taken against errant schools under the provisions of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973," it said.

The Delhi government has been tightening a noose around private schools against the arbitrary fee hike. Last week, a private school in North-West Delhi rolled back a fee hike following the Delhi government's order on Tuesday. The school was instructed by the government to roll back the hike after parents had complained to Cheif Minister Arvind Kejriwal about fee hike for the session 2018-19.

Earlier in August last year, the AAP government had issued showcause notices to 449 private schools for charging the extra fee from students. It had also threatened to take over these schools.