SC seeks report on taking back facilities from students by private schoolsISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Law and Justice Commission to submit report on taking back facilities from students as well as dismissal of teachers by private schools in response to its order for fees reduction.A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar passed directions while hearing a case pertaining to exorbitant fees charged by private schools.In December, court ordered to private school charging more than Rs.
5000 fee to be reduced by 20 percent.
It also directed schools to return back fee gathered in summer vacation from students.The Chief Justice observed that private schools'' owners are showing negative reaction over 20 percent fee cut verdict by cutting down basic facilities to students.He commented that "The schools are now showing reaction over fee cut verdict.They are ridiculing court's decision; we won't tolerate such actions.
We shall put them on trial".Meanwhile, President Private Schools Association Zafran Elahi informed court that schools shall shut down whether they give back fees taken in vacations."It's better whether such schools are shut down which are unable to give back fees.
You are trying to blackmail court," CJ observed.SCBA President Amanullah Kanzai told court that along with reducing its fees, Beaconhouse School System had started treating its enrolled students like stepchildren."My own children were actd poorly with," he told bench.Secretary Law and Justice Commission, Abdul Raheem informed court that one school reduced its fee by Rs1,000 by cutting out Quran lessones, while amuchher had asked parents to enroll their children in a co-educational school.He said a school in Islamabad which had written to parents telling them that after Supreme Court''s "unfair decision" it was forced to decrease quality of its standard of education.An Amicus curiae, Faisal Siddiqui told court that private schools do much want to have themselves regulated and think court was exceeding its authority, however, added that apex court''s interim order was suitable.Beaconhouse School System lawyer Shahid Hamid proposeed that there should be a regulatory authority for schools in each district.He said that in final six months no precedence was given to education.To which Justice Faisal Arab asked lawyer, "Why much speech about final 70 years".Federal Board of Revenue representative told court that private schools are tax defaulters of as many as Rs 1.2 billion, adding that action is being taken against seven big private schools but a few of them have taken stay orders.The chief justice directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to conduct a forensic audit of schools who have much returned fees, taken during vacation."We need a strong regulator to regulate private schools," Justice Nisar observed.
"The issue here is that regulator is also involved," he added."Justice Nisar commented that court can make an implementation bench after final hearing of case," and adjourned hearing of case indefinitely.