Asks School management to appear before it by May 02
The Committee for Fixation & Regulation (FFRC) of Fee of Private Schools J&K, has given a last opportunity to a private school to appear before it by or before May 02, 2023 with regard to a complaint over violating the transportation fee orders.
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According to the Asian News Hub (ANH), Chairperson of FFRC, Justice Sunil Hali (Former Judge) while hearing a complaint against Presentation Convent Hr. Sec. School Rajbagh Srinagar, said that in pursuance to the complaint filed by the parent notices were issued to the School Management with regard to charging of extra transport fee from the students.
“This committee vide order No 09 FFRC Dated 06-10-2022 after detailed discussion with the stakeholders including the school had allowed a hike of 14% to the schools on the fee being charged by them in October 2019. That vide order No 1 FFRC (TF)2021 Dated 19 September 2021 the school has admitted that the school was charging Rs 1480 per month. This order was resolved in presence of complainant, Transport Service provider, Principal and Manager of the school,” the order reads.
Therefore, it said, as per the order issued vide 09 FFRC Dated 06-10-2022 you were required to hike the bus fee by 14 percent from the amount which was being charged. “In plain terms it would mean that you could hike the fee form 1480 by 14 % as provided by the order dated 06-10-2022 a notice was issued to you to appear before the committee on 26th of April 2023 to explain your position as to why was your school charging fee over and above the prescribed fee by this committee. In your reply dated 27th April 2023 you have referred to some dispute between the complainant and school which is pending in the court of law. It has no bearing to the present context in which the notice has been issued to you. The law will take its own course in
case the complainant has committed any crime. Therefore it is irrelevant for the present proceedings.”
“Your reply to the notice issued by this office is that the order dated 06 October 2022 relating to the fixation of Transport Charges does not apply to your school as it applies to those schools who are providing their own transport. Also as per your explanation you have outsourced this business to some Private transporter,” the order said.
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It added that there is some misconception in understanding the charging of transport fee. “The committee under its rules has to fix, determine and regulate the fee which includes the Transport Fee also. It is immaterial how the school provides this facility to the students whether it is school owned transport or the same is being outsourced. It is not your case that the Transport facility has been arranged by the parents with some private company then of course the school has no responsibility. You are directly charging transport fee from students, therefore it is your exclusive responsibility to charge fee which is permissible under law.”
“What are your terms and conditions with the transport company is a bilateral issue between you and the transport company. You cannot escape the responsibility of charging fees as per order 09 FFRC Dated 06-10-2022 which provides hike of 14% at the existing fee charged by your school. As per receipt issued by your school it has come to fore that you are charging Rs 4900 for two months (copy enclosed).”
“Despite being asked to appear before the Chairperson FFRC you failed to appear and explain your position. You have the right to submit your version of the story. Your written submission by in itself is directly in contravention of order No 09 FFRC issued on 06-10-2022,” it said.
“You are given one last opportunity to appear before undersigned to explain your position by or before 2nd of May at 3 pm. In case you fail to appear then your action will tantamount to violating the orders of this committee which entails consequences provided under law which includes in first stage imposing of fine. Needless to remind that you have a right to explain your position and satisfy the undersigned in this behalf. Therefore you are asked to appear before the undersigned on 2nd of May at 3 pm,” the order further reads.
