HC asks Viqarunnisa authorities not to collect extra tuition fees

The High Court today asked concerned authorities of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in Dhaka not to collect extra tuition fees from its students for the next one year.

In response to a writ petition, the court also questioned the legality of the rule that empowers the education board to form ad hoc committees for running the private educational institutions.

The board formed the ad hoc committee under Section 39 of the Private School and College Governing Body and Managing Committee Regulations, 2009, petitioner's Advocate Eunus Ali Akond told The Daily Star. 

The HC issued a ruling asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks as to why the section 39 of the Private School and College Governing Body and Managing Committee Regulations, 2009 should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

Education secretary, chairman of Dhaka education board, deputy commissioner of Dhaka, chairmen of ad hoc committees of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Ideal School and Willes Little Flower School and their principals have been made respondents to the rule, Eunus Ali Akond said.

The HC bench of Justice Zinat Ara and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Akond challenging the legality of section 39 of the Private School and College Governing Body and Managing Committee Regulations, 2009.

In the petition, he also challenged the action of the ad hoc committee of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College charging extra tuition fees from its students.   

Citing from the petition, Eunus said section 39 of the Private School and College Governing Body and Managing Committee Regulations, 2009 is contradictory with the constitution, as there is no provision in the charter for formation of an ad hoc committee for private educational institutions.

The constitution only allows formation of governing body or managing committee for such private institutions, he said.

Eunus also said the authorities concerned of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College have been illegally collecting additional Tk 500 from its college students and Tk 300 from its school students as tution fees and also Tk 500 from all the students for the welfare of its teachers and staff from January this year through the ad hoc committee.