SFDC's orders set aside

Remitting the matter back to the Justice K Raviraja Pandian committee for fresh consideration, the Court made it clear that the interim arrangement would be applicable only to about 300 petitioners, including Laxmi Matriculation School, Madurai, which had moved the court and not to other schools.

The court said the enhanced fee would be subject to the final orders to be passed by the SFDC.

Some of the petitioners, self financing schools, were recognised under Tamil Nadu Private Schools Regulation Act, while a few others under the Code of Regulations for Matriculation Schools or the Code of Regulations for Anglo-Indian schools.

By the impugned order, the committee determined the fees to be collected for three academic years from 2010-11 to 2012-13. The order was challenged on the ground of 'arbitrariness' and that it was not in conformity with the Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee Act.)

The grievance of the petitioners was that they were not given sufficient opportunity to put up their cases at the time of personal hearing.

The court said told the committee to furnish fee structure approval forms to the writ petitioner schools, which sought details and documents. All these schools should propose the fee structure afresh with fresh or additional material/audit statements.

Directing the committee to give personal hearing to each of the schools that had moved the court and afford reasonable opportunities to them, the Court directed them to pass final orders as expeditiously as possible, preferable by the end of December. PTI GR RC

VMN