Maharashtra Government to settle school fee row in panel

As specified under Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Collection of fee Act 2011), the state government has regulated panels in each state division.  Parents and school authorities can now approach these fee panels in case of fee hike of 15 percent.

The order to hike fees by 15 percent in schools was passed by the interim Bombay High Court on December 22, 2015. However, when parents can actually approach the panel regarding the hike is not decided yet.

The five member panel was headed by:

Retired district court judge Krishnaprasad Warrior

Chartered Accountant Santosh Parab

Retired director of Education Mohan Awate

Divisional Chairperson of Maharashtra state education board Duttatray Jagtap

Deputy Director of Education (Mumbai) BB Chavan

Procedure that the panel involves

Inform High Court about the dispute

Submit proposed fee by school authorities for the new academic year to the PTA for approval

Parents and school can approach the revision committee if they want to appeal against the decision of the divisional pane.

Jayant Jain (president of forum for Fairness in Education) said:

"We are getting complaints from parents almost every day about schools indulging in unjustified fee hikes. More than 20 complaints are pending with the education department as the fee act is not being implemented." as reported by Hindustan Times .

Source: Indiatoday