SHC seeks DG Schools comments in fee concession case

The Sindh High Court has issued a notice to the director general private schools on an application seeking contempt proceedings against him for not complying with an earlier order regarding implementation of a law about concession in school fees during the coronavirus pandemic. A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar issued the notice to the alleged contemnor with direction to file comments after the counsel for petitioners informed it that the Aug 11 order of the bench had not been complied with. On Aug 11, the bench had disposed of two petitions moved by a non-governmental organisation and All Sindh Parents’ Association (ASPA) and directed DG MansoobSiddiqui to implement the law about 20 percent concession in fees during the pandemic in all educational institutions in the province and to file the first compliance report within 20 days. Basically, the petitioners had approached the court for enforcement of the relevant sections of the Sindh Covid-19 Emergency Relief Ordinance, 2020 — that was adopted by the Sindh Assembly as an act — regarding concession to students in fees of educational institutions during the pandemic stating that various educational institutions were not implementing the law and charging 100pc fee from their students. Section 3 (2)(a) of the ordinance reads: “No educational institution shall charge more than eighty percent (80%) of the total monthly fees. The relief amount, reduced equivalent to twenty percent (20%), under this Ordinance, shall not be recovered as arrears under any circumstances or under any existing or new head of account.” Section 2 (a) of the ordinance says: “‘Educational institution’ means any preschool, elementary or secondary school, college, university, higher educational institute, madaris or any vocational, commercial, professional whether in public or private sector providing formal or non-formal education.” Meanwhile, the same bench has directed the social welfare secretary to inform it on Dec 15 that when will the Azadi Cards be issued to senior citizens for providing essential services and benefits.