KOLKATA: Parents are free to take their children out of their current school and admit them elsewhere: many schools in the city are suggesting this in letters that are being sent to guardians who have failed to pay fees within the deadline set by the court.
While the November 30 deadline for clearing arrears is over, the HC had said schools could deroster children, whose fees had not been paid, from online classes from December 8.
South Point High School has sent such a letter to 250 defaulting parents whose total outstanding amount stands at Rs 30 lakh, according to spokesperson for the school Krishna Damani. “To all defaulting parents, we have sent repeated reminders. In the letter we sent out today, we said they are free to take their kids elsewhere if they wish. To all defaulting parents, we have given the option to appeal by December 19 for additional waivers, instalments, and deadline extension, if they come to us with proof of their distress,” he said. The tone of communication is more or less similar at MP Birla School, run by the same group. “If parents do not come to us within the stipulated time, we will be constrained to think parents are not interested in continuing with us. So we have suggested such parents may apply for a transfer certificate,” Damani said.
A letter to this effect has also gone out to defaulting parents at Shri Shikshayatan School. The school has suggested parents are free to remove their wards and the authorities will arrange for a transfer certificate. “We pushed back the deadline, we offered instalments, we offered to help parents who come to us with proof. What more can we do?” said Bratati Bhattacharya, spokesperson for the school.
“They go to a school, knowing they have to pay a certain amount for the services their kids will avail of,” said the spokesperson for a school in central Kolkata that are keeping the payment option open till the end of the winter vacation.
The SC was to hear the plea for extension of deadline and contempt of court by schools filed by Vineet Ruia on Monday but it has not been listed. The HC was to hear compliance reports from schools but the matter has not been listed either.