Tuition fees case: SC rejects LHC verdict in favor of private schools
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that annual increase in the tuition fee of private schools will be five per cent, rejecting the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision in favor of private schools.
The top court upholding a decision of Sindh High Court (SHC) full bench withdrew an order to reduce fee by 20 per cent.
The apex court also withdrew an order from last year — passed by former chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar — for private schools to reduce their tuition fee by 20pc. At the same time, the court barred administrations of schools to retrieve the money as outstanding charges.
The judgement contained a dissenting note by Justice Faisal Arab who was part of the three-member bench hearing the case.
The verdict was reserved last week by the bench that was hearing a number of appeals against the cap on school fee introduced by the Sindh and Punjab governments, with not more than 5 per cent increase allowed for initial three years in the case of Sindh.
SHC stops private schools from taking July’s fees
On May 6, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has stopped private schools from charging fees for the month of July.
According to the details, the SHC took up the plea filed against the private schools for charging fees for the month of July. The court said it had already stopped schools from charging two months fees on account of summer vacations in its ruling.
Counsel of school informed the court, the case is under trial in the Supreme Court, “Those parents who are contacting courts, not paying fees of their children.”
In this regard, the SHC ordered parents to pay fees within three days and asked the schools to withdraw fees voucher of one month, issued for the period of summer vacations.
Later, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till May 20.
