ISLAMABAD: Private schools charging more than Rs2,000 per month have been ordered by the Supreme Court to reduce fee by 20 per cent.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Faisal Arbab gave the order while hearing a case against excessive fees charged by private schools.
The apex court also directed Federal Bureau of Revenue to scrutinize tax records of the directors of the said schools.
The schools, however, have been allowed a five per cent annual increase in future while regulatory will have the final say over increase of more than eight per cent.
In its order, the apex court has also directed 21 private schools to either return 50 per cent of summer fees within two months or adjust the amount.
“In light of the judgment, no school should be shut down nor should a student be expelled – doing so will be considered direct contempt of the court order,”
In an earlier hearing, the bench had sought forensic audit of the accounts of private schools. The top judge had remarked that private schools were charging fees per their own whims and wishes, adding that education is not a product which can be put up for sale.
