Promote Harmony,

However, Chairman Doon International School Srinagar, Showkat Hussain Khan refuted the allegations and asserted that they respect the guidelines issued by the FFRC.

“These are baseless reports. We didn’t take any admission fee. We only take annual, bus and tuition fees,” Khan said.

Sources from the education department, however told Kashmir Observer that parents are themselves responsible as they are willing to pay the amount to secure the admission of their kids.

G N Var, President at Private Schools’ Association said that “few schools” are maligning the image of others.

He however noted that as per norms private schools have to notify the fee structure 45 days before the commencement of the session. However, he said at the same time the fee committee hasn’t allowed the schools to notify the fee structure.

“We have over 6000 schools in UT and it is impossible for the FFRC to fix the fee structure in a month, as a result private schools are in a dilemma,” Var added.

He further said that the private schools will gradually stop taking admission in the current session.

Piyush Singla, Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, told Kashmir Observer that “strict action” shall be taken against the violators.

He said few cases which came to their notice through socialmedia have been flagged to concerned Deputy Commissioner and Director School Education for “strict action in the matter”

“Any parent who wants to make a complaint can send a written complaint to FFRC or to the School Education Dept.,” Singla said.

Notably, post abrogation when hundreds of central laws were implemented in the newly carved union territory a few including Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. is yet to be implemented.

Under the RTE act, Economically weaker sections (EWS) are able to secure admission in top schools who had to reserve a 25 percent quota for them.

However, as of now the students of EWS aren’t able to take admission in leading schools of the valley as the schools do not reserve any quota for the poor students.

According to the Act, the government will cover the expenses of educating these underprivileged children.

“That’s the reason this act is not being implemented here. The Govt has to reimburse fees to the private schools,” sources said.

Karwani, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) J&K and senior officials of UT Administration were also present.