Legal metrology drive against fleecing city schools

It seems school uniforms and related accessories are not the only things that cost parents dear.

In a surprise move, the Legal Metrology Department here on Thursday carried out a raid at a CBSE school in the district and found massive irregularities in the sale of textbooks and related materials to its students. Based on the finding, a case has been registered against the school management under sections of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rule, 2011.

“The school was found charging excessive price for textbooks and materials such as paper bundles, pens, pencils and glue. While the average excess price for textbooks was ₹5, other packed accessories were sold after erasing the maximum retail price printed on those products,” said R. Rammohan, Deputy Controller, Central Zone, Legal Metrology Department.

According to him, the raid at the school was conducted based on a complaint filed by a parent.

The department is now planning to hold a special drive against the city schools that fleece parents. “Anyone having complaints against schools that fleece parents can approach legal metrology officials,” Mr. Rammohan added.

T.P.M. Ibrahim Khan, president, Kerala CBSE School Management Association, said he was unaware of the incident. “Indeed, CBSE schools are permitted to run ‘Tek Shops’ on school premises to facilitate the distribution of textbooks and school materials and strict monitoring mechanism is in place to ensure that no illegal transactions are taking place through the shops. About 80% of the books supplied through the shops are published by the NCERT, which are relatively cheaper than the books by private publishers, and the chances of irregularities are very less,” he claimed.