Delhi govt asks over 500 private schools to refund excess fees

New Delhi: In yet another warning, the Delhi government has asked over 525 private schools to refund the extra fee they took from parents of students within 15 days.

A committee headed by Justice Anil Dev Singh has identified 525 schools to be overcharging parents on the pretext of implementing recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission while not doing it.

The panel was constituted last year following the Delhi High Court's order and has so far submitted nine interim reports to be implemented by the schools.

After submission of the eight interim reports, the Directorate of Education (DoE) had directed 472 schools to refund the amount within 15 days. However, till December last, only 43 schools had complied with the order.

"525 schools have been identified by the committee in its nine reports to refund excess fee charged. They are hereby directed to comply with the said reports within a period of 15 days and to submit compliance report," a communication by DoE said.

According to the directive, schools that have charged excess fee to implement 6th Pay Commission's recommendations but have not implemented it are supposed to make the payments to their staff as per the commission recommendations, out of excess fee collected, with 9 per cent interest, without further raising any fresh demand from the parents or students.

"And if after implementing the 6th CPC in the school, there still remains excess money charged from the students/ parents by such school, it shall be refunded to the concerned person," the circular said.

The committee has so far submitted recommendations on 1,066 schools.