05-08-2025
Delhi: Pay Rs 1.2 lakh to clear outstanding fee, court tells parent as pvt school claims financial situation jeopardised
A Delhi court recently directed a man to pay Rs 1.21 lakh to a private school in the city as the outstanding fee for his child.
The Judge was hearing a suit filed by Bluebells International School, which was the defendant for the recovery of the school fee of one of its students. The school had argued that the parent, the plaintiff, was under a legal obligation to make timely and regular payments of the fees.
'Present suit has been filed on October 16, 2024, whereas the cause of action last arose upon the plaintiff on February 7, 2024, when the defendant made the last payment against the outstanding amount,' the court noted in its order dated July 23.
'In view of the foregoing reasons, the present suit is decreed in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendant. The plaintiff is held entitled to recover from the defendant a sum of Rs.1,21,418/- alongwith interest @ 10% per annum from the date of institution of the suit till the realisation of the suit amount,' said Civil Judge Yashu Khurana of Saket Court.
It was also argued that the parent had not cleared the dues despite repeated requests and reminders. Stating that its financial situation was being jeopardised, the school also told the court that a legal notice dated May 31, 2024 was issued to the parent.
The order comes at a time when the Delhi government has introduced a Bill to regulate fee hikes by private schools in the Assembly amid the ongoing Monsoon Session. The Bill, which has come in the backdrop of protests by parents against arbitrary hikes by private schools, imposes strict penalties on schools that hike fees in an arbitrary manner.
Schools will face fines ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for the first time offences and Rs 2 to 10 lakh for repeat violations. Repeat violations may also lead to a loss of the right to increase fees in the future.
