Uttarakhand Government Takes Action Against Excessive Private School Fees

Uttarakhand's New Fee Regulation for Private Schools

Uttarakhand Private School Fees: The state government of Uttarakhand has implemented new regulations prohibiting private schools from imposing arbitrary fees on parents. This decision was communicated to the Uttarakhand High Court during a recent hearing, where the government announced the establishment of a committee to address fee-related complaints from parents.

The court was reviewing a public interest litigation submitted by Deepchandra Pandey, a resident of Haldwani, who claimed that numerous private institutions in Uttarakhand are charging exorbitant fees. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) clarified to the court that it has not received any complaints from students or parents regarding this issue.

During the hearing, the Chief Education Officer of Nainital participated via video link, confirming that the state has set up a committee to look into concerns about fees, uniforms, and the practice of compelling students to buy books from a single vendor.

After considering the arguments from both sides, the bench, consisting of Justices Ravindra Maithani and Alok Mehra, instructed the petitioner to first present his grievances to the advisory committee and subsequently closed the case.

Details of the Petition:

The petitioner contended that school authorities mandate students to purchase notebooks, textbooks, and uniforms from designated stores, which often charge higher prices than the market average. In response, school managements defended their position by stating that consolidating all necessary materials at one location helps parents avoid multiple trips and ensures timely commencement of classes.