Madras High Court Orders Private Schools to Publicly Display Approved Fee Structures
The Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered all private schools across Tamil Nadu to publicly display their approved fee structures on school notice boards and official websites. The order, passed by Justice M Dhandapani, mandates that this information must be published at least one month before the commencement of every academic year to ensure transparency for parents.
Justice Dhandapani passed the order while disposing of a petition filed by the All India Private Educational Institutions Association. The association had challenged a previous order passed by the Tamil Nadu Information Commission (TNSIC) and a subsequent communication issued by the Director of Private Schools, both of which directed the public display of school fee structures.
In the ruling, the court agreed with the association's contention that the TNSIC had acted beyond its jurisdiction when it directed the Director of Private Schools to issue a circular mandating the public display of fees. However, the court maintained that the actual circular issued by the Director of Private Schools could not be deemed impermissible.
Justice Dhandapani highlighted the necessity of providing fee details to parents who are looking to secure a good education for their children. The court stated that parents must be provided with the details of the fees payable so they can make informed decisions before admitting their children. The judge noted that this measure prevents unexpected expenses from burning a hole in parents' purses, which would otherwise cause a detrimental effect on the household.
The court ruled that displaying the fees is within the existing statutory framework, which stems from the Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulation) Act. Under this Act, a duty is cast upon private schools to display their approved fees on their notice boards and websites. The court confirmed that the regulation of this display falls within the jurisdiction of the Director of Private Schools.
