Panel recommends 10 Per cent reduction in college fee amid COVID-19 crisis: Gujarat High Court

In order to enable the advocate general to obtain appropriate instructions from the state government, the division bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and IJ Vora posted the matter for hearing on March 26.

Gujarat Fee Cut: Giving relief to the parents and students, a committee formed to look into the college fees reduction amid the ongoing pandemic situation suggested a 10 per cent cut, the Gujarat High Court was informed on March 22. According to the reports, The High Court is hearing a PIL seeking cut in college fees on the lines of the 25 per cent reduction in school fees. In order to enable the advocate general to obtain appropriate instructions from the state government, the division bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and IJ Vora posted the matter for hearing on March 26.

While representing the petitioner Mita Brahmbhatt in the PIL, Advocate Ronith Joy said, "The advocate general made a statement during the hearing that the two committees appointed in September last year have proposed a fee reduction of 10 percent (in colleges).”

Earlier the court was informed that two separate committees are formed by the government, one to deal with the fees for professional courses and the other for non-professional courses' fees. Akshay Mehta, a retired justice is heading both the committees. Reports suggest that “The petitioner has sought the court's direction to the state government to reduce college fees in the same manner in which the 25 per cent reduction in school fees was effected as a relief to the parents of students.”

The petition talks about the financial problems parents are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also asks the government to extend the same analogy and rationale to college students. Last year. In the month of September, the state government had asked private schools to take 25 per cent cut in annual fees.

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