Private schools barred from charging summer fees
Justice Siddiqui warns of issuing contempt of court notices to schools ignoring orders
The Islamabad High Court. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Private schools in the capital were warned on Wednesday that if they continued to charge summer vacation fees, they would be doing so in contempt of court orders.
This was directed by Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui as he dismissed a petition challenging private schools charging fees during the two-month-long summer vacations.
Justice Siddiqui reportedly remarked that people who used to commute on Honda motorbikes now apparently own fleets sports utility vehicles.
PIERA bars private schools from taking summer fees
Maintaining that private schools will not be allowed to put education on sale since it would amount to exploitation of the public, the court stated that collection of summer fees by private schools would amount to contempt of court.
“Schools which fail to comply will be issued contempt notices,” Justice Siddiqui warned, adding that the court will also review petitions filed by private school teachers against non-payment of salaries.
The court has adjourned hearing for the case until July 11.
IHC directs schools not to charge fee over summer vacations
On May 18, Justice Siddiqui had directed the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) to restrain educational institutes in the capital from charging advance fees for summer vacations.
The court had further ordered that fees already paid should be adjusted against fee for the period following the vacations.
Private schools had then filed an appeal against Justice Siddiqui’s order before a division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2018.
Private schools in the capital were warned on Wednesday that if they continued to charge summer vacation fees, they would be doing so in contempt of court orders.
This was directed by Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui as he dismissed a petition challenging private schools charging fees during the two-month-long summer vacations.
Justice Siddiqui reportedly remarked that people who used to commute on Honda motorbikes now apparently own fleets sports utility vehicles.
PIERA bars private schools from taking summer fees
Maintaining that private schools will not be allowed to put education on sale since it would amount to exploitation of the public, the court stated that collection of summer fees by private schools would amount to contempt of court.
“Schools which fail to comply will be issued contempt notices,” Justice Siddiqui warned, adding that the court will also review petitions filed by private school teachers against non-payment of salaries.
The court has adjourned hearing for the case until July 11.
IHC directs schools not to charge fee over summer vacations
On May 18, Justice Siddiqui had directed the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) to restrain educational institutes in the capital from charging advance fees for summer vacations.
The court had further ordered that fees already paid should be adjusted against fee for the period following the vacations.
Private schools had then filed an appeal against Justice Siddiqui’s order before a division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2018.