Delhi Education Directorate Takes Action Against School Over Alleged Fee Violations
The Directorate of Education (DoE) in New Delhi has issued a formal show-cause notice to Salwan Public School, located in the Mayur Vihar Phase-3 area of east Delhi. This action comes in response to serious allegations that the school expelled or denied entry to a student, which directly contravenes the provisions of the fee regulation act.
Allegations of Unapproved Fee Hike and Student Exclusion
Parents of a nursery student enrolled at Salwan Public School have raised significant concerns, claiming that their daughter was repeatedly denied entry to the school on multiple days. The reason cited for this exclusion was the non-payment of a hiked fee. Crucially, this fee increase had not received approval from the Directorate of Education, which had previously issued a warning to the school regarding this very matter.
The DoE notice explicitly referenced an order from the deputy director of education, district east, dated January 28. This order specifically directed that the names of students should not be struck off, nor should they be denied education, if their parents failed to pay arrears for hiked fees that lacked DoE approval.
School's Response and Official Confirmation
While the principal of Salwan Public School did not respond to media queries on the incident, an official from the institution confirmed that the student was indeed denied entry. The official further stated that a fee reminder notice had been sent to the parents, indicating the school's stance on the unpaid fees.
The issue was initially brought to light when the parents approached the district deputy director of education. Following this, the Directorate of Education communicated directly with the school principal, instructing that no student's name should be removed from the school rolls due to non-payment of a fee increase that had not been sanctioned by the department.
Legal Implications and Broader Parental Concerns
The DoE has issued a stern warning, indicating that any violation of these directives would result in strict action under the Delhi School Education Act and Rules of 1973. This legal framework provides the department with the authority to enforce compliance and penalize institutions that fail to adhere to regulations.
In a related development, a group of parents has also approached the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) seeking urgent intervention. Their concern stems from fears that the school might withhold roll numbers, admit cards, and other examination-related formalities for students in Classes X and XII. This potential action is linked to non-payment of fees following what the parents describe as an "arbitrary, exorbitant and unapproved 57% hike" in school fees.
The school has denied these allegations, maintaining its position on the matter. However, the issuance of the show-cause notice by the Directorate of Education underscores the seriousness with which the authorities are treating these complaints, highlighting ongoing tensions between regulatory compliance and institutional practices in Delhi's educational landscape.
