Pay fees of 15,000 students: Bombay high court to state

Criticising the state’s lethargic attitude, the Bombay high court on Wednesday directed it to pay fees of some 15,000 students belonging to the scheduled tribe and other de-notified tribes who are studying in private/unaided school.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Naresh Gosavi and other parents whose children study in private aided/unaided schools under the ‘free studentship’, alleging that since the government has failed to release grants, the schools are not allowing their children to attend school. Petitioners’ lawyer Gayatri Singh said the government stopped disbursing funds from 2007.

On August 5, 2010, the court directed the state to “release the grants for free-ship reimbursement to the students”.

The judges have summoned concerned principal secretary or secretary of the social welfare and education departments on December 10.

Additional government pleader Shinda Sridharan said that due to increase in fees, the state is unable to pay them. “Due to circumstances, the government has suspended release of amount,” she said.