HC sets new deadline for fee regulatory authority in MP

BHOPAL: State government has been given two weeks’ time by the MP high court to constitute fee regulatory authority for private schools. Previously, the MPHC had directed the state government to take decision by January 16 to regulate fees structure in aided and unaided private schools.

On Friday, double bench of Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Rajendra Mahajan gave the state government one last chance for constituting the fee regulatory authority.

Petitioner senior activist PG Najpandey told TOI that they have pleaded with the court for the regulatory authority to be set up before the start of next academic session which is due to commence in March-April.

Najpandey also said that the state government during hearing of a contempt petition in September last year had submitted that it was in process of framing regulations. However, even after two months, the government did not do so after which a fresh petition in the high court was filed in November last year.

Thereafter, a contempt petition was also filed after the school education department did not take any action on the high court order of April 7, 2014 when the MPHC had asked the petitioner to submit representation to the school education department for constitution of fees regulatory committee.

Although the state government contemplated to form a committee headed by a former high court judge to examine school fees and related issues in 2009, the fact remains that despite five years have elapsed, no such committee or authority has been constituted in the state.