Not family dispute, resolve fee row with school: Bombay HC to parents – Times of India

MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Tuesday nudged parents of a Malad (east) school that had denied 203 students access to online classes due to non-payment of fees to physically meet its management to resolve issues.
“This is not some family dispute. This is about students at school,” said a bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Chandrakant Bhadang. The court heard a petition by 203 students, most between 6-13 years, of Seth Juggilal Poddar Academy, an ICSE school. The petition stated for 2020-21, the parents had paid 50% fees and the delay was “due to loss of job or loss of business or exhausting of all savings during the lockdown period.” On April 29, the school was directed to “sympathetically” consider individual representations.
The school’s advocate, Arvind Kothari, said except for 84 students, whoever asked for paying fees in instalments were allowed. He said 84 parents did not make any representation.
Petitioners’ advocate Disha Karambar said the school did not respond to representations made earlier. She also the instalment facility is only till June 30. Karambar said there is also no consideration for those seeking leaving certificates. “The school is insisting that first term fees should be paid,” she said.
The judges said since there was no embargo on movement now, parents can ask their representatives to meet the school’s management to resolve issues. They said their April 29 order was passed on the lines of the Supreme Court’s order to consider each case. “Now there is no restriction on movement. Let them physically come to the school,” Justice Jamdar told Kothari.
Karambar said all possible attempts were made to contact the school authorities. “There is no one to address queries,” she said, urging that the remaining 84 students be allowed to join online classes.
The judges said they would direct the school to keep its representative present and added that the parents must approach the school as it is about students. “If this is an issue, I will get it resolved,” Kothari offered, adding that the school can give 2-3 months more for payment of fees.
In the order, the judges said, “Now that the lockdown is lifted in a phase-wise manner, there should not be any difficulty for representatives of parents to meet the officer/representative concerned of the school.” They directed the school to inform the date, time and name of its officer and to hold a meeting before Saturday when it will next hear the matter.
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