Imphal, January 14 2010: The matter of collection of monthly fees and of students' transporting service charge for the period in which students did not attain school due to the class boycott continue to exercise the minds of parents school authorities, transporters and the general public.

When the question of collection 50% of the fees and vehicle transportation charges of students come up from school authorities and body of school vehicle service operators, Consumer Club observed that fees and students' transportation charges collected by the school authorities could be refunded under the Consumers Protection Act, 1986 .

Speaking to reporters here today at its Paona Bazar office, president of the Consumers Club, W Manglem observed that the activities of the private school is akin to selling quality education to the students.

Students are buying education like any other essential commodities.

Collecting fees for the last five months from the students when schools remained closed amounts to giving the price of goods which one has not bought and it is against the consumers' protection act, 1986 .

If the parents and guardians of the students happened to pay off fees and students transportation charges for the period in which students did not attain schools, then it can be refunded through the consumer court.

For this, parents and guardians are to apply to the court through Consumer Club, Manglem added.

Secretary of the Club, Ch Nabachandra assured that the club can help all the parents and guardians apply for the refund of the fees and transportation charges.

The government act to safeguard the interest of the parents and guardians, if they wish to do so.

The Consumer Club cannot stop the school authorities from collecting fees and transportation charges from the students but acting within the power conferred to the club by the Consumers Protection Act, 1986, it can seek redresal for the violation of rights of the consumers, informed the secretary of the club.

He further informed that some parents and guardians have started lodging complaints with the club with regard to the collection of fees and transportation charges.

On the other hand, Nabachandra observed that it would be wrong on the part of the school authority not to pay salaries of the teachers serving in their respective schools.

School authorities had contracted teachers for one year.

Running a private school is similar to running a business.

There will be loss and gain in the business.

The responsibility of loss and gain should be borne by the school authority.

When the school authorities got higher profit when number of students increased, they never hiked the pay of the teachers.

So, they should try to cope with the loss while paying the salaries of the teachers.

Vice president of Consumers' Club, N Dilip said when school authority collected fee for a month in a year without taking class, no one complained.

This does not mean that Consumers Club can intervene in every situation where fees are collected without taking classes.

He further said that parents and guardians can lodge complaints with regard to non-availing of facilities which school authorities promised in advertisement at the time of seeking admission by the students.

Comment