Pune: Bombay High Court Issues Notice To Dhruv Global School Over Alleged Unlawful Fee Hike
Pune: Supreme Court Bars Dhruv Global School From Hiking Fees Until DFRC Is Reconstituted
The Bombay High Court has issued a notice to Dhruv Global School following a writ petition filed by 89 parents, raising concerns about an alleged unjustified fee hike for the academic year 2025-26. The court directed the school to submit all documents and records related to the fee structure approved by the Executive Parents Teachers Association (EPTA). The school’s representatives were not present during the hearing, and the matter is now scheduled for further proceedings on April 15.
In their petition, the parents have urged the court to instruct the Maharashtra government to reconstitute the Divisional Fee Regulatory Committee (DFRC), a body responsible for addressing disputes between schools and parents regarding fee structures, as outlined under Section 7 of the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Act, 2011.
The parents also named the state government, Deputy Director of Education, and the DFRC as parties in the case, pointing out the absence of an active DFRC in Pune, whose last tenure ended in June 2024. They allege that no notification has been issued since then to renew or reconstitute the body.
The dispute stems from a notification the parents received via email and the school’s ERP platform on September 6, 2024, regarding the fee structure for 2025–26. This was based on an EPTA meeting held on August 31, 2024. According to the parents, Dhruv Global School has been imposing a 15% fee increase with each shift in grade band every two years and applying the same increment to existing students without justification.
The parents allege that although the declared fee structure already includes a 15% increase every two years, the school has been adding additional hikes beyond this, leading to excessive and unlawful financial pressure on families. They argue this practice misleads parents into believing that the hikes are within legal limits, while in reality, it violates the law.
Moreover, the school allegedly compels parents to begin paying the new academic year’s fees from March 1, even though the session starts on April 1. Delays in payment attract a penalty of ₹10 per day for the first 15 days and ₹100 per day thereafter.
Bhanu Sinha, a parent, told Pune Pulse, The school is violating Section 3 of the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Act. It has turned education into a profit-driven enterprise, which is discouraging bright students.”
The parents also filed a Right to Information (RTI) application regarding the DFRC’s status but were told the “data is not available.” With no resolution from the authorities, they approached the High Court, seeking reconstitution of the regulatory body and redressal of their grievances.
