Kalyan school yet to admit students despite order

MUMBAI: A school in Kalyan has refused to admit two students who were issued leaving certificates in June over its long-pending fee battle with their parent.

In an interim order dated October 24, the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) had asked DS Desai High School to allow siblings Sudarshan Dakhorkar of Class 10 and Dhanashri Dakhorkar of Class 5, to attend school if the pending fee dues were cleared within seven days of issuing the order.

The students were handed leaving certificates this year, citing non-payment of dues since 2016-17 over their father’s battle with the school over the fee hike.

“We tried paying the dues and requested the school to admit the students back as per the commission’s order, but they refused. We then sent a demand draft of the amount [₹91,000] but have still not received any acknowledgement,” said Rameshwar Dakhorkar, the kids’ father. “My son is in Class 10 and has been compelled to be at home since the start of the academic year. If the school does not admit him back, he will lose a year for no fault of his,” he added.

HT tried contacting the school on the phone but its officials remained unavailable for a comment. A school spokesperson, however, responded to an email query. “The case is pending in MSCPCR, Worli branch Mumbai,” stated the official.

ANKITA BHATKHANDE