The Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) for private schools in Jammu and Kashmir, headed by Justice Sunil Hali (Former Judge), has taken strong actions against several private schools for alleged violations of fee norms.
In one case, the committee took suo moto cognizance of a video circulating on social media where a parent named Sana leveled serious allegations against the Kashmir Harvard School in Naseembagh, Srinagar. Sana claimed that the school demanded an exorbitant admission fee of Rs 85,000 for her child’s admission, which is strictly prohibited by law. The school management has been directed to appear before the FFRC office in Hyderpora on April 3 for a thorough examination.
In another case, a parent lodged a complaint against Doon International School in HMT, Srinagar, alleging that the school demanded Rs 90,000 as developmental charges for admission, which has not been approved by the FFRC. The school’s chairman/principal has been summoned to appear before the committee on April 4.
The FFRC also issued directives to the British School in Nowgam, Srinagar, after a complainant alleged that the school was charging fees without authenticating its fee structure from the committee. The school has been ordered to maintain the existing fee structure until March 2024, with no additional charges, including transport fees. In the case of Kashmir Harvard Educational Institute in Nasim Bagh, Srinagar, the committee directed the school management to refund the admission fees collected from all fresh students within a month, after it was found that the school had withheld a student’s admission due to non-payment of Rs 85,000 as admission fee.
Additionally, the FFRC has issued a general order prohibiting all private schools in Jammu and Kashmir from charging advance tuition fees, annual fees, or transport fees for extended periods without approval from the competent authority. Parents have been instructed to pay all fees by the 15th of every month to enable schools to pay staff salaries and meet other expenses.
The FFRC has warned that failure to comply with its directives may lead to the initiation of necessary actions, including referring matters to investigative agencies, suspending fee collection from students, and recommending the suspension of schools’ recognition to the government.
