Issuing a stern warning to private schools against arbitrary fees hike, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday reiterated that his Government will take the "strongest action" for allegedly harassing parents by arbitrarily increasing fees to comply with the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission.
Chief Minister's warning came after reports suggested that private schools substantially increased their fees to comply with the seventh central pay commission (CPC) recommendations.
It may be noted that in October of this year, the Delhi Government had allowed recognised unaided private schools on Delhi Development Authority land to increase their fees by 15 per cent as an "interim" measure to comply with the CPC recommendations, which include a nearly 25 per cent increase in salaries of schoolteachers.
"Parents from all over Del have met me in the last few days with complaints that schools are demanding very high fee, including arrears to implement 7th Pay Commission. This must stop. I have directed Edu Dept to review the whole situation n to take immediate steps to stop this (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.
In another tweet, he said: "No school shud victimise any student, else Govt will not hesitate in taking strongest action."
Kejriwal also said he has ordered the education department to review the situation and take immediate steps to stop this. The Delhi Government said it was monitoring and would come out with a solution within a week.
Kejriwal had called a meeting on Thursday to review the situation arising out of alleged arbitrary fee hike by private schools to implement the commission's recommendations.
Briefing reporters about the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who holds the education portfolio, said if private schools behave like commercial institutions, the Government will "not spare them".
"If private schools are found victimising students and harassing parents, the Government will not hesitate in taking the strongest action against them," Sisodia said.
Asked about the need to audit private schools' accounts, he said the government would audit if needed.
On Wednesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government said that parents aggrieved with the arbitrary hike in fees by private schools would be able to register complaints with 'Fees Anomaly Committees' in each district as it has ordered disposal of the complaints within 90 days.