The parents of the school children are accusing the Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana School Education of unfairness and intend to contest the order in front of higher ups.
The ongoing tussle around the fee hike between the management of Blue Bells School in Sector 15, Gurgaon, and parents came to an end with an order issued by the additional chief secretary (ACS) of School Education Haryana favouring the management.
The parents of the school children had raised the issue that the school authorities had delayed the submission of form VI. However, the school stated that the reasons for late submission of the form were unintentional and due to a technical fault in the online portal.
While the parents were opposing the arbitrary fee hike, an order by ACS issued on November 11 stated “By examining the considered opinion of the parties and relevant record, I am of the opinion that a slight delay in submission of Form VI by the appellant school does not seem to be intentional, hence the same is not so material. The order passed by the FFRC (Fee and Fund Regulatory Commission) is largely based upon the delay in submission of Form VI by the appellant society which is not sustainable in the eye of law. Thus, the orders passed by FFRC are hereby set aside. The appeal of the appellant school is allowed in the aforesaid terms.”
The parents however were shocked with the decision of ACS favouring the school. They also received the copy of an order on this hearing wherein the ACS has set aside the previous order of the Divisional Commissioner D Suresh who had termed the current year fee hike by the school as invalid and against the law. The hearing on the school case was held at the ACS office in Panchkula on November 8, said a parent.
"The previous order was passed by the Divisional Commissioner, D Suresh on July 31, in line with the rules of the Haryana State Education. Due audits were also conducted. It was found that school had not submitted the form VI within a stipulated time line violating the State Education Rule 158A. This had established that the school was ineligible for any kind of fee hike in current session” shared a parent.
“The current order clearly indicates that the ACS office is totally working on behest of the school lobby and has overlooked it's primary responsibility of providing fair justice," alleges Yash Pal Kalra, another parent.
Parents have also said that they were provided a copy of the November 8 order on November 23 deliberately in a bid to delay the process of filing an appeal against it.
It is hence believed that the order might encourage other schools to follow the same path and harass people for their monetary benefits.
The parents however intend to fight this case with the higher authorities. The school on the other hand is happy with the development.
“We welcome the order and are thankful to ACS for being fair”, said Suman Gulati, director, Blue Bells Group of Schools.
