Some 40 parents in Dahisar have handed in a complaint letter to the police claiming that Rustomjee Troopers school has kicked out their wards after they decided not to abide by the school's "extortionate" fee regime. They have accused the school of cheating and extortion.

The school, which has given Leaving Certificates (LC) to 60 students, maintains that the Bombay High Court has upheld the right of unaided school managements to cancel the admission of students whose fees have not been paid.

Last year, after receiving complaints from many parents, the BMC's education department had sent a letter to the school asking it to justify the increase in its fees.

On April 18, the education officer of BMC's primary education department had asked the school not to issue LCs to children, but the school did it anyway, the parents claimed.

"My child's nursery fees was around Rs 40,000 a year. In pre-primary, it rose from Rs 44,000 to Rs 46,000 a year and now, in Class I, it is Rs 56,000. Seeing the continuous bump, we decided to pay the fees without the hiked amount, as our complaints are pending with the education department. But the school rejected the fees we had sent and gave LCs to our children," said a parent.

Another parent said, "After getting the LC, many parents got afraid and paid the difference fee. But many of us signed the police complaint."

Principal Chaya Rangnekar issued a statement saying the school is following the rules laid down by the Maharashtra Education Institution (Regulation of Fee) Act 2011.

"We had placed the fee proposals before the PTA Executive Committee and they were accepted by them. There had been no complaints from the PTA. The school has followed the guidelines laid down by the Maharashtra Education Institution (Regulation of Fee) Act 2011," the school's statement said.

It cited an HC order dated April 23, 2018 and said the court has upheld an unaided school's right to cancel the admission of students whose fees have not been paid. "The parents were made aware of the order and were given many reminders. These parents have not paid the fee arrears of the current academic year. This implies a deliberate and conscious action on their part. The school is left with no other alternative but to issue the LCs to the child," it said.

The school said it allowed the students to sit for final exams and issued them report cards, before giving them conditional LCs so they have "one final opportunity" to pay the fees. If they do so, the LC would be recalled, the school said, adding that its communication with parents's representatives has been transparent.

Senior Inspector Pandit Thackeray of MHB police station, where the parents' complaint has been submitted, said on Monday that parents of 19 students came register a complaint against the school management. "The parents gave a statement that the school was sending LCs through courier and acting unjustly. Their statement had been forwarded to the nodal officer in the education department," the policeman said.

In Dahisar

• Parents of students at Rustomejee Troopers are locked in a dispute with school managament over hike in school fees 
• Senior Inspector of MHB police station said parents of 19 students turned up on Monday to lodge a complaint
• https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-mumbai-parents-go-to-cops-as...