PIL: Despite GO, private schools ask parents to pay fees

PIL: Despite GO, private schools ask parents to pay fees

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.06.2020

Claiming that private schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu were ignoring government instructions and demanding immediate payment of fee for the lockdown period, a lawyer has approached the Madras high court for action against errant institutions.

Advocate L K Charles Alexander said almost all private educational institutions in the state were demanding payment of fee for the lockdown period.

Though the state passed a government order dated April 24, directing all private educational institutions not to insist on payment of any kind during the lockdown, the same has not been publicised or implemented properly, he said.

While in Assam, Delhi and Maharashtra such prohibitory rules have been implemented in letter and spirit, Tamil Nadu has failed to register complaints against such illegalities, he said.

As per the Disaster Management Act, the Epidemic Diseases Act and guidelines of the WHO, the government is duty bound to ensure that citizens are not harassed by such private institutions to pay fees when their livelihood is itself at stake, the lawyer added.

Noting that every person has the right to live with dignity, he said the state is duty-bound to protect rights of citizens by providing income security and targeted social assistance for the marginalised.

Charles wanted the court to direct the state to initiate action against such erring institutions and ensure that they do not demand fees until normalcy is restored. The PIL is likely to be taken up for hearing on Monday.

Tamil Nadu has failed to register complaints against such illegalities, advocate L K Charles Alexander said. The PIL is likely to be taken up for hearing on Monday