Telangana High Court Issues Notices on PIL Against Private School Fees
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has issued notices to both state and central authorities in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the high fees charged by private unaided schools. The bench, consisting of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao, has instructed the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Department of School Education to file responses within four weeks.
The PIL was filed by Keethineedi Akhil Sri Guru Teja, a resident of Hyderabad, who argues that both the Union and state governments have neglected their regulatory responsibilities over private unaided schools. The petitioner alleges that these institutions are imposing exorbitant fees due to insufficient oversight by District Education Officers (DEOs).
According to the PIL, the Government Order No. 1 Education, issued on January 1, 1994, which was intended to regulate the fee structure for private schools, is not being enforced. The petitioner further highlights that out of 11,501 private schools in the state, only 50 have submitted their annual administration reports to the School Education Department.
In addition to challenging the fee structure, the petitioner has requested that the court direct both state and Union governments to establish a committee tasked with regulating private school fees. The matter has been adjourned for four weeks to give the respondents time to file their counter affidavits and address the concerns raised.
This development highlights ongoing issues surrounding the regulation of private educational institutions and their fee structures, with significant implications for students and parents across the state.
