Fee row: Students of Malad school can finally resume classes

After two months’ legal battle, management agrees to parents' demands for time to pay last year's fees and instalments this year

It took a legal battle of two months of for parents of 300 children of Seth Juggilal Poddar Academy to finally get relief. They had approached the court in April when the school management barred students from attending online classes over non-payment of fees.

The parents, who have been struggling financially in the pandemic, have got an extension to pay last year's fees. The Malad school has also allowed them to pay this session's fees in instalments. 

As per the new arrangement, students will regain access to online classes soon after their parents submit a written undertaking stating that the fees will be paid within six months.

“The extension gives us relief. Our children will be able to begin classes. The school will have to compensate the students for the academic loss though,” said a parent, adding that another legal battle also forced the administration to hold talks with parents.

“Until now the management was not even willing to speak to us. Now, following the court mandate, talks were held with parents on Thursday this week following which parents and the school reached an amicable resolution,” said another parent. 

In April, parents had accused the school administration of neither giving a discount nor leaving any room for discussion on fees, as many of them were facing financial crisis.

For not reducing the fees, the management had argued that even though the classes were online, the expenditure was the same.

Many parents had also claimed that they had made payments in instalments, but their children were still barred from classes. However, the school had said the action was taken against only those who didn't pay any fees at all.

Omprakash Deedwania, the manager-trustee of the school, said, “Parents have been given an extension to pay the pending fees of the last academic year. Their request for paying fees in instalments has been granted. They can make the payment monthly for the new academic year.”

The court had last week asked the school management and the parents to amicably resolve the matter. Thereafter, both parties held a meeting at the school on Thursday and came to the resolution and informed the court, which on Saturday disposed of the parents’ plea.

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