SC orders all private schools to cut fees, directs FIA to freeze accounts of LGS and BSS

CJP directed all those schools who had received winter vacations’ fees from students, to return 50 percent to parents or adjust the amount in the fees of upcoming months

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday ordered all private schools across Pakistan to cut down their fees while instructing Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to freeze the accounts of at least two schools.

According to details, the case of exorbitant fees charged by private schools was heard at the Supreme Court where the chief justice directed FIA to freeze bank accounts of Lahore Grammar School (LGS) and the Beaconhouse School System (BSS) while further giving orders to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to initiate investigation against both the schools.

On the onset of hearing, the audit reports of LGS and BSS were submitted in court, which said that the directors and top officials of the schools had received Rs 62 million in salaries in 2017. A total of Rs 512 million was spent on employees’ salaries in one year, while Rs 5.2 billion was spent in five years, the report read, adding that various facilities were also provided.

Astonished by big numbers in the report, Justice Nisar inquired, “have these schools bought uranium mines or gold mines?”

“Each director gets a salary of Rs 8.3 million,” Justice Nisar noted, observing that the LGS audit report was incorrect and the auditor should be caught and handed over to FBR.

Referring to school owners, the CJP snapped, “They are not running schools anymore, they have now become industrialists.”

The legal counsel of private schools Ayesha Hamid apprised the court that all schools were willing to decrease fees by 8 percent, to which the chief justice remarked that the proposed reduction was way too less.

From onward, the apex court will decide on the percentage of increase in fees, the CJP announced, cautioning, “if anyone attempts to close down the school, they will be charged with contempt of court.”

Concluding the hearing, the top judge decreed all private schools to reduce their fees. Meanwhile, the CJP dictated all those schools who have received the winter vacations’ fees from students, to return 50 percent to parents or adjust the amount in the fees of upcoming months.

“A hike in fees above five percent will only be allowed with the permission of the regulator,” Justice Nisar clarified.

The hearing was adjourned until next two months.