Gurgaon: DPSG threatens to expel students over non-payment of fee - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Gurgaon: DPSG threatens to expel students over non-payment of fee

Hindustan Times | By, Gurgaon
Feb 15, 2018 10:39 PM IST

Parents alleged that more such notices are in the offing as the majority of them have refrained from paying the school fees since April 2017

Parents of 20 students of Delhi Public School Ghaziabad (DPSG), Palam Vihar, are distraught after receiving a notice from the school management, threatening to strike the names of their wards off the rolls over non-payment of fee.

The school had set a deadline of January 23, 2018, for parents to clear the fee.(Parveen Kumar/HT File Photo)
The school had set a deadline of January 23, 2018, for parents to clear the fee.(Parveen Kumar/HT File Photo)

Parents alleged that more such notices are in the offing as the majority of them have refrained from paying the school fees since April 2017, as a mark of protest against what they claim is an unjustified fee hike of 100%-200%.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The fee hike and the consequent refusal to pay fee took place last year after the school changed hands from the Ansal-managed Chiranjiv Bharti trust to DPSG trust.

Parents alleged that the change of management is negatively affecting them and causing them a lot of problems.

“We have been asked to pay a fee which has been increased by 200% to 300%. I was paying an average 12,000 per quarter for my child but now it is more than double that amount. How can we pay such exorbitant sums?” said Sanjay Kataria, whose two children study in the school.

As per the notice issued by the school management, the parents have not paid the fee since April 2017, and it invoked the para 24 of the Haryana Education Rules that states that the name of the student can be struck off for non-payment of fee or other dues.

The school had set a deadline of January 23, 2018, for parents to clear the fee.

Apart from threats to strike off the names of the wards, some of the parents also alleged that their children were humiliated, forced to sit on the floor and treated differently.

“The matter was brought to the notice of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) but no action was taken. We have approached the authorities, politicians and every possible office but it was of no help,” Dev Kumar, a parent, said.

The chief grouse of the parents against the authorities is that the additional chief secretary KK Khandelwal overruled the decision of fee and fund regulatory committee, which had given a decision in their favour.

The parents had hoped that they would get relief from the court but suffered a jolt after the high court directed that a new committee should be formed to decide on the matter.

The school authorities, meanwhile, said that nearly 500 parents had not paid the fee despite repeated requests.

“We have issued several reminders for settlement of dues and set a nominal fine for the late payment. It is time parents, as stakeholders, realise their responsibilities and abide by the high court directive/ order,” Sudhir Chitnis, senior administrator, DPSG, Palam Vihar, said.

Chitnis also denied that students were treated 'differentally’.

Members of the CWC had visited the school on February 11 and took statements of the school students.

“The problems alleged by parents, of misbehaviour and misconduct with students, are being looked into. There were only two students who were asked to sit in different classrooms due to non- payment of fee. We had given a warning to the school to ensure that this is not repeated and to ensure the children are treated well. There was no serious issue, as alleged by parents,” Shakuntala Dhull, chairperson, CWC-Gurgaon, said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Abhishek Behl is principal correspondent, Hindustan Times in Gurgaon Bureau. He covers infrastructure, planning and civic agencies in the city. He has been covering Gurgaon as correspondent for the last 10 years, and has written extensively on the city.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On