The Committee for Fixation and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools, J&K (FFRC) Wednesday directed one of the leading private school to pay Rs 16 lacs within a period of 15 days for violating its orders.
According to the official communique of FFRC, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in August-2024, the school management was directed to deposit Rs 9.60 lacs within the period of ten days as penalty.
“Ten days were given to the school management to deposit the said amount, the next date fixed in the case was September-02-2024,” it reads.
It also said that the school had submitted its file for regulation of its fees structure which was processed and accordingly the fees structure of the school was regulated and fixed. “Despite the fees being fixed by the committee the school management in violation of the committee order started charging higher fees which continues till date.”
FFRC Chairman, Justice (Retd) Sunil Hali in the fresh order said that after observing that the school management was violating the orders of committee invoked sub clause (e) (f) of Rule 12 and imposed a penalty of 1 percent initially.
“This order was challenged in the Hon’ble High Court and the High Court has stayed only part of the direction which was in respect of taking over the Management of School while as imposing of penalty was not stayed,” it reads.
“The order was not complied by the school management as a consequence of which, second default was committed, as a result of which the order on August-19-2024 was passed, whereby penalty of 3 percent as provided by the rules was imposed amounting to Rs 9.60 lacs,” it reads.
FFRC also said that the school management was directed to appear before committee on September 05-2024 but the management did not appear.
“In view if this, the school management is directed to pay Rs 16 Lakhs within a period of 15 days from the issuance of this order. In case the school management fails to comply with this order, the matter will be referred to the Tehsildar Recoveries, Srinagar for recovering this amount as arrear of land revenue in terms of Regulation 12 Sub clause (i),” FFRC said—(KNO)