Rs 34 lakh has been collected in the name of mid-term contribution. The school is allegedly compelling parents to pay Rs 4,000 each

It must have been a moment of pride for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after his government enacted the Right To Education Act. But a government-aided school located opposite his residence has been fleecing parents with impunity.


By force: The government-aided school (right)is situated bang opposite
the Prime Minister's 7 Race Course road residence in New Delhi.
Pic/IMTIYAZ KHAN

Though private schools in the national capital are infamous for charging huge amounts of money under various pretexts, this south Delhi school did not even feel the need to justify its brazen demand.

The Air Force Senior Secondary School at Old Wellingdon Camp, opposite the Prime Minister's 7 Race Course Road residence, has been allegedly forcing parents to pay Rs 4,500 each as donation for the academic year 2010-2011.

Parents are "forced" to make voluntary donations in the middle of the academic year without any reason. Interestingly, parents refusing to pay or offering lesser amounts are being humiliated and insulted by the school management.

Jaspal Singh, whose son studies in the school, alleged: "The fee was around Rs 500 but the school asked every student to pay Rs 4000 extra. However, when we enquired, the school authorities failed to give any reason for the extra money they were demanding. Later, the school started issuing receipts with the words 'voluntary donation' written on top."

"Initially I refused to pay any amount as I thought this was forced donation, but then I offered to pay Rs. 2500/- by cheque which was refused by the school. Later, I was forced to pay the full amount in cash. I was humiliated and insulted by the school authorities. We can't accept such behaviour from a school like this. It can easily be estimated that the school has already taken Rs 34 lakh from the parents in the name of donation," added Singh whose son, Anuj Parag Chauhan, is studying in class VIII.

For the academic year 2010-11, many parents alleged that schools asked for donations for getting their students admitted to nursery classes. More than 100 parents lodged complaints with the Directorate of Education of the Delhi Government alleging that schools have demanded more money to give admission to their children.

Advocate Ashok Agarwal of the NGO Social Jurist said: "Parents are already over burdened with exorbitant and arbitrary fee hikes in the school. The government must take action against the school as the aforesaid act on the part of the school to force parents to pay donation is contrary to provisions of Delhi School Education Act, 1973."

"The government should also see to it that the school refunds all such forced donations which have been taken from parents," added Agarwal.
The parents have already written a letter to the Delhi education minister, demanding immediate action against the school.

What the law says
According to the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973:u00a0
* No school shall levy or collect any donation compulsorily from any parent or any student or any guardian of any student
* No aided school shall collect any donation through its students for the aid of teachers or for any fund for the aid of teachers.