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The Calcutta High Court ruled on Friday that the 20% Covid-19 discount on school fees would end on March 15, 2022, and students can attend classes only if the new fees is paid.     

Vide an order dated October 13, 2020, the High Court had asked schools to charge 80% of original fees only as due to Covid-19, students did not have to attend physical classes.

The High Court bench of I.P. Mukerji and Justice Mousumi Bhattacharya on Friday noted that:

“With the Covid-19 pandemic showing signs of abatement and with the resumption of substantial normal activities in the new-normal period, the time has come, to assess how our order dated 13th October, 2020, as modified from time to time, should be further adapted to suit the changed conditions.”

Thus the Court ordered the following:

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

(b) From March 15, 2022, the 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 the 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 Court further noted that a student will be allowed to resume classes after March 15, 2022 only if the fees and charges specified by the school are paid and that the fees and charges shall be paid in advance for each month. School will have to specify the mode of instruction while indicating fees.

In an earlier order the Bench had held that no unaided private school could prevent any student from appearing in an examination for failing to pay at least 80 per cent fees as mentioned by the Court in an earlier order. 

The matter is next listed on January 14, 2022 at 2 pm.

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