PNS | NAINITAL
The Uttarakhand High Court has rejected the petition filed by Dehradun-based boarding school Welham Boys’ School challenging the government order regarding exemption of other charges for students except tuition fees during the Covid-19 pandemic. The HC stated that the State government has the constitutional right to issue such an order. It will be recalled that during 2021, when physical classes were not being conducted in schools, this school had filed a petition seeking the cancellation of the said government order.
The matter was heard by the bench of justices Manoj Kumar Tiwar and Pankaj Purohit. The petitioner had contended that the government does not have the right to pass any order related to the fees in private non-aided boarding schools. The petition had sought the cancellation of the 2021 order issued by the government.
During the hearing, the counsel representing the government stated that during the Covid-19 pandemic when educational institutions across the nation were closed, some private non-aided boarding schools were charging their students tuition fees, hostel fees, mess charges, laundry charges, horse riding charges, developmental charges, swimming fee and other such expenses. The government’s orders had stipulated that since physical classes were not allowed and virtual classes were being conducted, the schools would charge only the tuition fees from those students who are attending the online classes. The government had to intervene in its role as the guardian of public interest so that private schools do not take advantage of their prominent position to exploit students and their parents the government counsel stated.
