Pune: Parents Object To Caelum High School And Jr School’s Demand For ₹45,000 ‘Corpus Fund’, Question Legality Of Charges

Pune, January 31, 2026: Several parents of students studying at Caelum High School And Jr College, Pune, have raised strong objections to the school management’s decision to collect a one-time, non-refundable “Corpus Fund” of ₹45,000 per family (student), calling the demand illegal and unfair. Parents have complained to Pune Pulse that schools cannot legally ask parents to pay for the institution’s financial liabilities.

According to parents, the demand has created anxiety and confusion, with many questioning why they are being asked to shoulder expenses related to the school’s infrastructure, taxes, and administrative shortcomings.

What Are Parents Complaining About ? 

Parents said they recently received an official communication from the school administration stating that the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Executive Committee had approved the creation of a corpus fund to address what the management described as a “financial crunch.”

As per the message, the fund is intended to cover expenses such as:

• Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) tax
• Completion certificate costs
• Construction of a new auditorium
• Purchase of chairs and audio-visual equipment
• Development of a new sports field

The school has asked parents of students up to Std IX to pay ₹45,000 as a one-time, non-refundable amount, with the option to pay in one or two instalments by February and March 2026.

However, parents argue that these are liabilities of the school management, not expenses that can be passed on to families.

“How can parents be asked to pay for PMC taxes or construction costs? These are clearly the school’s responsibilities,” a parent said, requesting anonymity.

Concerns Over Legal Framework

Parents have pointed out that education rules do not permit schools to demand arbitrary funds under the guise of corpus contributions, especially when they are non-refundable and mandatory.

Many parents also questioned the claim that the PTA Executive Committee had “unanimously approved” the proposal, saying the wider parent community was neither consulted nor informed in advance.

“Approvals taken in closed-door meetings cannot justify burdening all parents. This is not transparent,” another parent said.

Fear of Pressure and Consequences

Several parents expressed concern that refusal or delay in payment could result in indirect pressure on students, even though the communication does not explicitly mention penalties.

“Parents are worried—what happens if someone cannot afford to pay? Will children be targeted or treated differently?” a parent asked.

Parents who had earlier paid deposits during the school’s shift from Ghorpadi to Undri have been told they are exempt from the corpus fund, further adding to confusion and resentment among other families.

Parents Seek Intervention

Parents have urged education authorities to intervene and clarify whether such collections are legally permissible. They have demanded that the school withdraw the demand and follow proper regulatory guidelines.

“This is about principle, not just money. Schools cannot run like private companies and recover losses from parents,” a parent said.

Pune Pulse spoke to the school authorities about the complaints raised by the parents. Harish Thadaney, President of the school, Caelum High School and Jr College, Undri stated that these are infrastructure costs which the school incurred on creating various facilities for the school.