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The Calcutta High Court has held that schools across the state can start charging full fees from students. Last year, the Court had ordered schools to provide 20% Covid-19 discount on school fees. 

By March, 2020 there was a sudden, widespread and serious onset in our country of the pandemic caused by the Covid-19 virus, in light of which physical education had to be discontinued.

The petition was filed complaining that schools were charging full fees even though classes were being held in online mode. Hence, the bench of Justices I.P. Mukherjee and Mousumi Bhattacharya passed the following order:

 (a) 80% fee rate will continue till March 15, 2022.

(b) From March 15, 2022, schools/ educational institutions covered by this litigation will re-admit all the existing students in their rolls, except those who are expected to leave the school by taking a board examination, specifying the type of instruction to be imparted – online, offline or hybrid.

(c) Before re-admitting students the school shall send to his or her parents or guardians an estimate of fees and additional charges for compulsory facilities to be provided and service to be rendered, by February 15, 2022.

The bench noted that there is substantial remission of the effects of the pandemic. Life in all spheres has become substantially normal due to which the state government has opened up even primary and upper primary schools. In view of the same, the Court ordered that full fees can be charged by schools.

It added that "no coercive action like expulsion of any student from the school, withholding of admit card to sit for any Board or school examination, withholding of mark-sheets or certificates on the ground of default in payment of school fees, shall be taken by the schools or other educational institutions covered by this litigation against any student," the Court ordered. 

Cause Title: Rajib Chakraborty and Ors. vs The State of West Bengal and Ors.