A recent decision by the Delhi High Court has denied a demand to halt schools from imposing charges for providing air conditioning (AC) amenities in classrooms. The bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, ruled that such fees are akin to other charges levied by schools, such as laboratory fees and smart class fees, and should therefore be borne by parents.
Highlighting the rationale behind the verdict, the bench emphasized that the financial responsibility of offering such facilities cannot solely rest on school administrations. Instead, parents should consider the facilities available to their children in schools and their associated costs while making enrollment decisions. Notably, the Education Department of the Delhi Government is actively reviewing this matter, awaiting an action taken report.
The court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Manish Goyal, noting that the petition was not maintainable. Goyal had argued that his child’s school was charging Rs 2,000 per month for AC usage, which, according to him, should be covered by the school’s resources. The Education Department informed the court that it was investigating the issue and had sought an action taken report based on multiple complaints.
In light of these developments and after considering arguments from all parties involved, the court concluded that the petition lacked merit and thus dismissed it.”
