Pune: 89 Parents File Writ Petition In Bombay High Court Over School Fee Hike

Pune, April 4, 2025: The blatant exploitation of parents by Dhruv Global School has finally reached the doors of the Bombay High Court. A group of 89 determined parents has taken legal action, demanding justice against the school’s exorbitant and illegal fee hikes, which they claim openly violate the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011.

The petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeks immediate intervention from the authorities to put an end to this financial burden being unfairly imposed on parents.

Shocking Fee Hike Strategy Exposed

Parents allege that the school has devised a dual escalation fee structure that allows it to exploit families systematically. The school imposes a 15% fee hike every alternate year, while simultaneously applying another 15% increase every time a student moves up a grade band (every two years). This unethical practice has resulted in cumulative fee hikes exceeding the legally permitted limit of 15% over two years.

Furthermore, the parents assert that the school has deviated from its original fee structure, which should remain constant throughout a student’s tenure, as per the law.

Legal Violations and Administrative Failure

Under the process and procedures laid down in the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011 and Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Rules the school has allegedly failed to form a Parents Teachers Association (PTA) as per the guidelines. Without an EPTA in place, any decision regarding fee hikes is not just invalid but illegal. They argue that without a properly formed EPTA, any decisions regarding fee hikes lack legal validity.

Furthermore, parents have also raised concerns over the school’s questionable fee collection policies, which demand payment starting from March 1, even though the academic year officially begins on April 1. Why are parents being forced to pay even before the session starts? To make matters worse, the school has been penalizing parents with late fees before the term even begins!

Where is the accountability? Where is the regulatory oversight?

Authorities Ignoring Parents’ Pleas – Who Will Take Responsibility?

Parents have made multiple complaints to both the school management and the Deputy Director of Education, Pune, but their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. The Divisional Fee Regulatory Committee (DFRC), which is supposed to address such grievances, has been non-functional since June 2024, following the expiration of its previous committee’s term. Why has the Maharashtra government failed to reconstitute the DFRC for almost a year?

This blatant inaction has left parents with no choice but to knock on the doors of the judiciary.

Demands for Immediate Government Action

The parents have petitioned the High Court with the following urgent requests:

Immediate reconstitution of the DFRC and Revision Committee to hear their appeal and prevent further exploitation.

Immediate halt on illegal fee hikes and enforcement of the original fee structure promised at the time of admission for that particular year.

Full disclosure of all financial records related to the academic year 2025-26.

Refund of excess fees collected from parents between 2019-20 and 2024-25.

Enough Delay! The Time to Act is NOW!

This case is not just about 89 parents—it is about every parent in Maharashtra struggling against unjust school fee hikes. How many more families will be burdened before the government steps in? Will the authorities finally take a stand, or will they continue to ignore the plight of hardworking parents?

Parents are watching. The court is watching. The government must act—NOW!