New Delhi, Jul 6 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the Uttarakhand High Court order, which had observed that unaided private schools cannot demand fees during the lockdown imposed to check the spread of Novel Coronavirus and left it to the state government, to take the final call.
"We are not inclined to interfere with the Uttrakhand High Court order in the case," a bench of the Apex Court, headed by Chief Justice (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde, said.
The Uttrakhand High Court had ruled that even payment of fees for online classes was optional. The Schools Association had moved the Apex Court, challenging the state High Court order.
The Schools had argued that as long as they were imparting education, be it online, they had a right to charge fees.
It said that there was 100 per cent attendance in online class, but less than 10 per cent paid fees. The Schools referred to the incidental expenses involved in arranging online classes, but the Apex Court was not impressed.
The Uttarakhand government had issued an order, stating that only private schools conducting online classes or other communication modes during the lockdown period will be allowed to charge "only tuition fee."
UNI XC RJ 2200