UT files reply to PIL on free school education

The UT Administration today filed its response in an ongoing public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Hemant Goswami,a social activist. The petitioner has sought directions to ensure that all educational institutions provide absolutely free and same quality education to a minimum of 15 per cent students belonging to the economically weaker section of society in lieu of free/ subsidized land,government grants and various tax concessions provided to these educational institutions by the authorities.

Placed on record by the senior standing counsel for the UT Administration,Advocate Sanjay Kaushal,the Administration has taken a dig at private schools for charging fees more than government schools. “Despite the concessions granted by the Administration,private schools have been charging exorbitant fees,whether directly or indirectly,under hidden charges. The schools are also making profits,whether in the form of transportation fees for providing school buses or in the shape of purchase of uniforms and books from a particular shop at the price which may be more than that for which those items are available in the general market,” reads the reply.