Parents win in money matters

The wait is over. Guardians of St Mary's School, Dum Dum, have won the second round of the fee war. The court order has again gone in their favour. Declared on May 17, the court's interim order states that the school has no right to charge excess fees from students while the lawsuit is on. The school authority will have to wait at least till June-July when the next hearing will take place."All the guardians are very happy now as the court has passed an interim injunction stopping the school from collecting enhanced fees of Rs 250 per month," said Chanchal Sur, general secretary, Parents and Guardians' Forum, St Mary's Orphanage & Day School. It all started in August, 2002 when the school served notice on all students regarding enhancement of special fees of Rs 250 per month on and above Rs 400 tuition fees per month. The guardians sent several appeals to the school to withdraw the new fee structure. Getting no replies from the school authority, the Forum filed a legal suit at the Barasat Court in September 2002. The case is being fought under Ashoke Kumar Pal, civil judge, Barasat Court. "It's our second victory against the school. After the first hearing on February 17, the court gave a similar order which also went in our favour. And this time the court has given a stay order which is a great relief for us," said Arindam Chatterjee, a parent. A couple of months back, the authorities had threatened to close down the school if the fees were not enhanced. "We will not say anything on this issue right now," said Paula Ghosh, headmistress, St Mary's. The victory has been a great moral booster for parents of other Anglo-Indian schools. Loreto House, Loreto Day School, Bowbazar and Sealdah, Assembly of God Church, Calcutta Boys, Calcutta Girls and St James are getting more vocal with their protests. "The United Guardians' Forum is working very closely in all the missionary schools of Kolkata. We will win one day," said Montu Pal, president, United Guardians' Forum.