CJP slams private schools for cutting back on facilities after fee reduction order

Supreme Court directed private schools to reduce fee by 20% last month

ISLAMABAD:

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar expressed on Thursday his annoyance at private school owners' reaction to Supreme Court's order to slash fees by 20 per cent.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by the CJP was hearing a suo motu case against tuition fee hikes by private schools. Last month, the apex court had ordered all private schools charging above Rs5,000 in monthly fee to cut the charges by 20 per cent.

Supreme Court Bar Association president Amanullah Kanzai informed the court that a few schools were cutting back on facilities for students, and dismissing teachers. "The schools may have cut down the fee but they have also put an end to the facilities to students," the court was told.

Reacting to the development, the CJP said: "The schools are ridiculing the court's decision... we won't tolerate such actions. We will take action against them."

Private Schools Association President Zafran Elahi told the court that schools would shut down if they return the fees taken during vacations.

"It's better if such schools are shut down...you [Elahi] are trying to blackmail the court," Justice Nisar said.