NCPCR acts against Delhi school's arbitrary fee hike

In New Delhi, parents are worried about what they call unfair fee increases at local schools. They say their children are facing harassment for not paying these higher fees. Many parents report their kids are being punished, which is causing them emotional distress. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has responded to these complaints. They issued a notice to a deputy education official regarding the fee hikes at Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj. Parents have claimed that the school increased fees without approval and mistreated children who could not pay. NCPCR noted that children should not be harassed due to fee payments, and their education should remain uninterrupted. They mentioned that some students were forced to spend entire days in the library instead of attending classes. The commission demands a report on the actions taken in this matter. The school principal, Deepti Vohra, declined to comment. Parents who met with the NCPCR chairperson shared their frustrations. They mentioned a high court order that required the school to readmit 21 students, but the harassment continued despite the fees being paid. Further complaints have also come from parents of students at DPS in Dwarka and Rohini, many of whom say their children's names were removed from school rolls. Some parents questioned how the school could increase fees and remove students from records when there are ongoing legal issues from as far back as 2021. Parents indicated that students who haven't paid fees are being excluded from competitions and school activities. Recently, over a hundred parents received warnings about their children's potential removal from the school. The bus service for these students has also been stopped. Despite parents approaching the Directorate of Education for assistance, there has been no response reported from the department. School administrators have not been available for comment.