Over the last few days, parent groups across the country have protested against arbitrary fee hikes and expenses charged by the schools. However, their call for justice has so far fallen on deaf ears.

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After several protests at the local and the national level have failed to yield concrete results, parents have now decided to complement mass protests by mass litigation, a step which they hope will them in their fight against the arbitrary rule of schools.

"Parents across the country have been fighting against fee hikes, and against schools not following fee regulation rules. While the protests have caught the government's attention, there seems to be a nexus between the officials and the education mafias. Therefore, no action has been taken against these schools. This is despite the fact that most states where parents are fighting have strict laws on fee regulation," said Anubha Sahay, president of the India Wide Parents Association.

She said the parents have decided to take legal recourse. "We are encouraging parents to file cases in the court against erring schools. We are also collecting data to file criminal cases against officials who do not take action despite their own reports showing violations on part of the schools" she added.

The shift from mass protests to mass litigation seems to be picking up pace in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh.

"Chandigarh is a classic example of how parents can challenge the schools lawlessness through legal recourse. The high court has stayed the hikes of over five schools in the last few days, with a number of cases still in process," said Nitin Goyal of the Chandigarh Parent's Association.

In Mumbai, the Forum for Fairness in Education (FFE), a non-governmental organisation, is set to file a number of PILs in the Bombay High Court, representing over six schools.

LEGAL RECOURSE

  • Parents from over five schools in Chandigarh have been successful in getting fee hikes of their wards’ respective schools stayed by the court  
  • Parents from several schools in Mumbai will now file litigations at the Bombay High Court against the fee hike.