FFRC wakes up to arbitrary hike in tuition fee

Srinagar, May 24: The Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) has imposed a fine of Rs 3.2 lacs on a private school in Srinagar for charging fee by making a hike of 20 percent, in violation of the committee order.

As per the order issued by the Chairman FFRC Justice (Retd) Sunil Hali, the school management, when approached by the aggrieved parents for reconsideration of the decision, were not heard.

"It has been observed by the committee that you do not comply with the orders issued by the government and FFRC issued from time to time and complaints mentioning of collection of fee at exorbitant rates by your school are pouring in this committee," the order reads.

The FFRC has stated that the school was defying orders of the committee since 2015.

"This shows your disrespect for the committee. Time and again notices were issued against you but you failed to appear every time," the order reads.

The FRRC has stated that the school management was violating the orders citing that as per the rules and regulations the Chairman FFRC has a mandate to impose a fine on private school equivalent to one percent of the total revenue generated in preceding year for the first time of non-compliance while three percent fine is imposed for the second time of non-compliance and give percent for the third time of non-compliance.

"The Chairman FFRC proposes to impose a penalty of one percent of the revenue of the preceding year (which comes to approximately Rs 3.2 lacs as per the audit report submitted by you reflecting the revenue the school receives) and also recommending to the appropriate authority for taking over the management of the school," the order reads.

The Administrative Department of the School Education Department (SED) has been asked to initiate appropriate action in terms of the recommendation made for taking over the management of the school "immediately."

Chairman FFRC has stated that the management of the school was allowed to appear before the committee to defend their case which they have failed to do so.

"The school has been a chronic defaulter in non-complying with the directions of this committee," the order reads.

The FFRC while referring to an order issued by the committee in December 2021 wherein it was stated that the school has not submitted file for regulating its fee structure.

"A direction was issued to school management to collect all types of fees as it stood in August 2014. School was also directed not to charge admission fee. But this order was not complied with by the school," the FFRC order reads..

The FFRC has imposed a penalty of Rs 3.2 lacs which is one percent of the revenue of the school in the preceding year, as per the audit report submitted by the school management.

"The amount shall be deposited in the account of Chairman FFRC of Private Schools, account number in J&K Bank civil Secretariat within a period of seven days," the order reads.

It further reads that the non compliance with this order will entail a penalty of three percent of revenue collected by the school.

"Any further non-compliance will entail penalty of five percent as provided by the rules notified by the J&K Government," it reads.