PMC education board fines school for demanding capitation fees

PMC education board acts on complaint against illegal capitation fee collection, fines school 10 times the amount

In a landmark move by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) education board, a private school in the city has been fined 10 times the amount that it demanded as capitation fees from students.

PMC education board chief Ramchandra Jadhav issued the order on Tuesday after a parent from S V Union High School in Somwar Peth complained to the school board a few days ago that the school was collecting a sum of Rs 11,000 per student as capitation fees.

Receipt issued
The decision of the PMC follows several protests that have been taking place in the city from the past few days over the issue of illegal fee hikes in schools across the city.

"In fact, the parent even submitted a receipt of the money paid to the school which clearly spelt this money was being taken as capitation fees," said Jadhav. "In accordance with a recent Bill passed by the Government
of India, we took action as taking capitation fees is illegal and have fined the school."

Jadhav added that the parents' complaints about illegal fee collection were brought to the education board by MNS corporator Bala Shedge.

"We had even written to the school authorities to explain why they charged this fee in addition to the yearly tuition fees but didn't get a reply," said Jadhav. "Now we are giving them a final chance to respond. In fact, if they return the capitation fees charged to students, the fine might be waived."