Parents demanding action against DPS Dwarka amid an escalating controversy over unauthorised fee hike.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Directorate of Education (DoE) on Thursday ordered Delhi Public School, Dwarka, to reinstate students whose names were struck off the rolls over non-payment of increased fees

.The directive followed a visit by a high-level DoE inspection team to the school on Tuesday, where both school authorities and aggrieved parents presented their sides. The team noted that no child should be punished for fee-related disputes

.The dispute stems from a long-standing conflict between parents and the school management over an allegedly unauthorised fee hike

.Parents said they had paid the last-approved fees, not the hiked amounts. The order also described the school’s act of sending children home without parental consent as “inappropriate”.

Deadline set

Based on its observations, the DoE ordered the withdrawal of student expulsion notices and the reinstatement of over 30 students

.“The head of school/manager of the school is also directed to submit the compliance report of the above-said directions within three days of the receipt of this order,” the order read.

.For months, parents have protested what they call arbitrary fee hikes. Earlier, 34 students had received e-mails informing them that their names had been struck off. When they arrived at school, they were denied entry.

“The order is in line with the assurances that we received from authorities earlier in the day,” said Praveen Menon, one of the aggrieved parents

.Earlier in the day, 102 parents moved the Delhi High Court demanding government takeover of the school. Citing gross violations, the plea accused the school of employing “unhealthy, dirty and inhumane” practices, including deploying bouncers on campus, to intimidate parents and students

.While the High Court suggested that the parents deposit 50% of the hiked fees, subject to the outcome of the case, the parents declined, stating that it was not financially feasible for them. The court has posted the matter for hearing on Friday.