Order on fee reduction applicable to all private schools, CJP reiterates

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar on Friday reiterated that the orders given by the Supreme Court for 20 percent reduction in monthly fee of students, is applicable to all private schools across Pakistan.

During the case hearing of exorbitant fee charged by private schools, the chief justice remarked, “The Supreme Court ruling applies to all [private] schools in the country charging above Rs5,000 [per month]; if there is any ambiguity then hand us the file, we will read it out [to everyone].”

Justice Saqib Nisar angrily noted that the administrations of schools began to shut down their institutions when the court ordered them to slash students’ fee.

In its December 13 ruling, the top court had ordered all those private schools across the country charging above Rs5,000 as monthly fee, to cut down their fee by 20 percent.

The chief justice had also announced that the decision on the percentage of increasing school fee onward, will be taken by the top court solely and “if anyone attempts to close down the school, they will be charged with contempt of court.”

Meanwhile, the CJP dictated all those schools, who have received winter vacations’ fee from students, to return 50 percent to parents or adjust the amount in the fee of upcoming months.