Public schools in Ghaziabad remained closed on Thursday as the managements of these schools are not happy with the order of the District Magistrate (DM) to constitute a committee for the fee determination. Owners of the schools took out a procession and submitted a memorandum to the DM as they objected to the decision of the district administration. The committee formed by the DM has asked the schools to furnish details of their fee structure and the same was to be sent to the State capital.
It may be noted that Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath had ordered to form a committee by the district administration to seek details from the schools and then sent it to lucknow. The Public schools, under the banner of Independent Schools Federation of District Ghaziabad, objected to it and said that the order was against them since these schools are not governed by the State.
The federation president Subhash Jain submitted, "These schools are governed by the CBSE rules that does not restrict them on fee aspect, hence the State Government orders does not apply on them. The Government orders apply only on the schools which are run by the State financial aids. They said the format of the form is too harsh which encroached upon their financial secrecies".
Jain cited a Supreme Court observation that the schools are free to charge fee according to their will. However, DM, Ministy S Nayyar, refused to listen to their demands. "The State is concerned about the welfare of the parents. No rule can surpass the public welfare. So committee formed by her would complete all the details and they will have to reveal all queries asked in the format and the report would be sent to the Chief Minister", the DM retorted. She was livid as the schools were closed and asked the school owners to comply with the State order and cooperate with the officers when they reach them to fill the form.