New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Delhi Public School (DPS), Dwarka, and others, on petitions filed by parents of the children who were expelled by the school for not paying the hiked fee. In its notice, the top court has asked for their reply within four weeks.
Earlier this month, the parents had gathered outside the school, claiming that their children were unjustifiably denied entry to school despite paying school fees. The school administration had also allegedly hired bouncers to deal with protesting parents and students.
Delhi HC directs parents to deposit 50% of hiked fees
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court directed parents of students to deposit 50 percent of the hiked fees for the academic year 2025-26, after which their children will be allowed to continue their studies. In the May 16 order, which was released on Wednesday night, Justice Vikas Mahajan clarified that the rebate of 50 percent is on the hiked component of the fee, and the base fee must be paid in full.
The court had passed the order after a petition was filed by 102 parents requesting the protection of their children amid the current fee hike issue at DPS. They also urged the takeover of the school by the government and Lieutenant Governor in the capital, news agency PTI reported.
In its order, the Delhi High Court said that the interim relief sought by the petitioners does not persuade it as there was nothing to show that the Delhi government’s Directorate of Education (DoE) declined the fixation of fees by the school for the academic session 2024-25 onwards.
“Until and unless the DoE reviews the financial statements of the school and on its findings, rejects the statement of fee providing for enhancement for the academic sessions 2024-25 onwards on the touchstone of ‘profiteering’ and ‘commercialisation’ of education, the enunciation of law as noted above does not provide for any embargo on such enhancement of fee,” the court said in its order as per PTI.
