The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to decide within six weeks a complaint against a private school here for allegedly charging an excessive fine on delayed payment of tuition fees.
Hearing a petition by Ajay Aggarwal, father of two students studying in classes 12 and 8 in the school, Justice Rekha Palli directed the department of education to decide the petitioner's complaint by passing a reasoned and speaking order in accordance with the laid down procedure and principles of natural justice.
In case the petitioner is aggrieved by any order passed by the authorities, it will be open to the petitioner to seek legal recourse as permissible in law, the judge said.
"The writ petition… is accordingly disposed of by directing the respondent no. 2 (DoE) to decide the petitioner's complaint dated 22.12.2021 by passing a reasoned and speaking order within a period of six weeks in accordance with the laid down procedure and by following principles of natural justice," the court said in its order dated April 27.
The counsel for the Delhi Government told the court that the authorities will examine the petitioner's complaint and expeditiously pass an order. The petitioner claimed that the private school in question indulged in unethical practices, including levying excessive late fines on delayed payment of tuition fees, which was in utter violation of the Delhi School Education Rules.