Chandigarh, 20th May 2020: On the
request of parents and keeping in view the situation due to COVID-19, Education
Department, Chandigarh Administration directed all the recognized private
un-aided schools to reschedule the last date for depositing the fees and funds
for the session 2020-21 after one month of the lifting of lockdown. However,
lock down was extended a number of times. During the month of April and
May, neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and NCT Delhi permitted the private
schools to collect tuition fees on monthly basis.
Independent School Association and 07
other petitioners challenged order dated 30.03.2020 by filing CWP No. 7338 of
2020. The petitioners pleaded that, for the payment of salary and other
expenses, the schools need to collect fees from the students. Hon’ble High
Court passed interim order on 13.05.2020 and directed the administration to
take appropriate call after hearing the petitioners.
Keeping in view the request of the
petitioners, the orders issued by neighbouring States of Punjab and Haryana on
similar issue and to mitigate the hardships of the parents and the welfare of
school employees under the present circumstances, Chandigarh administration has
reconsidered the issue and has decided that :-
1. Schools can collect only tuition fees
on monthly basis.
2. Parents can deposit fees of April
& May 2020 till 31st May 2020 without any late fee.
3. Monthly fee from June onwards can be
deposited by 15th of the month.
4. Schools have been directed to provide
access of online classes to all students without any discrimination.
5. Schools have also been directed not
to stop payment of monthly salary or reduce their total emoluments of teaching
and non teaching staff of the school.
6. Schools have also been directed to
ensure timely payment of salary to staff.
7. It has been emphasized that in case
any parent is not in a position to deposit the fee in time due to financial
hardships due to COVID crisis even then the name of the student will not be
struck off and online teaching will also not be stopped.
However, the matter is still sub-judice
and next date of hearing is 22-05-2020 in the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High
Court.
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