Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court expressed hope on Tuesday that parents and students should now desist from protesting after the matter of school fee hike was taken up by the court for consideration.
The high court directed that any further report of agitation outside the school gates “may be reported by the relevant schools for appropriate police action.”
There have been several reports of parents’ agitation outside some schools in the state. They demanded fee reduction on the grounds of online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 145 institutions were listed in the petitions that sought school fee reduction. A division bench comprising justices Sanjib Banerjee and Moushumi Bhattacharya proposed the 145 schools to set up committees comprising institute head, three senior teachers and three guardians. The committee can voluntarily suggest how much reduction the school can bear.
The court ordered that fees to the extent of 80 per cent should be deposited by September 15 for the months of August and September. After the fees are deposited, online classes should be made available to students, the bench ordered. The matter will again be heard on September 14.