Private schools charging admission fee without providing receipt ‘gross violation’ of SEA 2002: FFRC

Srinagar, June 11: The Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) for the private schools on Wednesday said that most of the private schools were still charging the admission fees from the parents in "gross violation" of the School Education Act 2002.

In a fresh order issued by the Chairman FFRC Justice (Retd) Sunil Hali, the committee has said that complaints were pouring from  parents and the students regarding charging of admission fee by private schools "in violation of the Jammu & Kashmir School Education Act 2002 (as amended)."

The order reads that despite various orders and directions issued by the committee from time to time regarding the subjects in light of provision(s) of ibid Act and rules made there under, schools were still collecting donations from parents.

"It has also come to fore that some private schools are still receiving  admission fees and in most of the cases without providing proper receipt through methods other than the standard banking process, to hide the illegal transaction of money," the FFRC order reads.

The order reads that proviso to Section 20E (1) of the Jammu and  Kashmir School Education Act, 2002 (amended) provides that private  schools shall not charge in any manner, any other fee including  admission fee or any amount, by whatever name called than the fee mentioned above.

"Charging of admission fee by private schools is grave violation of the Act and directions passed by the committee from time to time and warrants strict action under law against the erring school," the order reads.

In a bid to check the menace and stop the exploitation, the FFRC has urged the parents and the students to inform the office through official email-chairmanffc@gmail.com or on official telephone numbers - 0194-4034841 and 0191-2956990, "so that necessary action is taken against such erring schools in accordance with law."

The FFRC has assured the parents and students that their identity will be kept confidential.