In what came as a relief to parents, the state education minister on Monday clarified that the Gujarat Self Financed Schools (Regulation of Fees) Act, 2017 will be effective from this academic year. Education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama met all District Education Officers and District Primary Education Officers in the state to discuss the recent Gujarat High Court judgment on the fee act.

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During the meeting, Chudasama instructed all officials to see if the schools that completed hearings with FRC’s are implementing the new norms. He further said, “Schools that had approached FRC, and whose decisions have come, will have to implement the same immediately and the refund, if any, will have to be given to parents this year itself. The Act will come into effect from the current academic year.”

Rejecting around 40 petitions opposing it, a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice VM Pancholi last week had upheld the Gujarat Self Financed Schools (Regulation of Fees) Act, 2017. The Bill was introduced by the BJP government early this year.

State to file a caveat petition in SC

Chudasama on Monday also held a meeting with Sunaina Tomar, principal secretary, primary and secondary education and Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General to discuss further discourse. He said, “In our meeting, we have decided that we are going to file a caveat petition in the Supreme court once the Christmas vacation is over.”

A caveat petition is a precautionary measure which is undertaken by people usually when they are having a very strong apprehension that some case is going to be filed in the Court regarding their interest.

Chudasama also thanked the schools that reduced their fees as soon as the Act was formed. He said, “Schools will have to justify the amount they are charging but they cannot charge as per their wish.” He appealed to parents to have patience as the state government was going in the right direction.

THE HC ORDER

  • Schools that did not approach the FRC will have to approach the FRC with a proposal in three weeks from the date of the judgment. Middle class families will be at a greater benefit.