Srinagar, Nov 02: The Government Fee Fixation Committee (GFFC) on Wednesday barred the private schools from charging and collecting annual fee for four months from November-2022.

GFFC while reviewing the one of the cases of the private schools said, “After having interaction with the school management authorities of the private school, it was made clear to them that academic session of the educational institutions comprises of 12 months.”

GFFC said that it was also made clear to them that in view of the governments issued previously, the government has made it clear that new admissions will commence form the month of March of the calendar year and annual examinations shall be conducted in March-April session in all the government and recognized private schools.

“It was thus impressed upon these authorities that the school management’s notice to the students to pay annual fee for the months November 2022 to March 2023 is legally not sustainable and the authorities in these circumstances should withdraw the notice,” reads the communiqué.

GFFC said that the authorities assured that they would put on hold the notice which asks students to pay annual fees for the period November-2022 to March-2023.

It also reads, “It was made clear to the authorities of the school management that academic session cannot be stretched beyond the 12 months period, which now starts from April-01 and ends on March-31 of the calendar year.”

GFFC further said that the period of five months commencing from November 2022 to March-2023 being not part of the academic session, the students cannot be asked to pay annual fee for the period.

“All the school management of private schools are restrained from charging and collecting annual fees for the period November-2022 to March-2023,” GFFC said.

It also said that any breach of this order will result in initiating action according to law.