Madras High Court: N. Anand Venkatesh, J., stated that in case the Schools are violating the High Court’s earlier Order with regard to collection of only 40% tuition fees by unaided private institutions during the academic year 2019-2020, Contempt proceedings shall be instituted.
Petition was filed seeking writ of mandamus directing respondents to relax an order passed against the educational institutions precluding from collecting fees from the students to the extent to permit the schools to collect the fees due for academic year 2019-2020 and part fees for the academic year 2020-21 to meet the costs for paying the salaries, purchase and distributions of books, provisioning for online classes, etc.
Government Advocate on behalf of the Education Department submitted that several complaints have been received from parents to the effect that the Education Institutions insisted for the payment of the entire fees in violation of the interim orders passed by the Court on 17-07-2020.
Parents are hesitant to give a written complaint fearing consequences.
Bench taking serious note of the issue stated that education department shall conduct an immediate enquiry and if it would be found that the institutions have been collecting fees in violation of the interim orders passed by this Court, immediate action shall be taken against the schools.
Further, particulars of the Schools shall also be provided to this Court and if this Court finds that there is any violation, this Court will not hesitate to initiate Contempt Proceedings against the persons incharge of the School. The Director of School Education, Chennai, shall file a report on the action taken. [Tamil Nadu Nursery Primary Matriculation Higher Secondary Schools Assn. v. Chief Secy to Govt, 2020 SCC OnLine Mad 1638 , decided on 31-07-2020]