CJP irked over schools cutting down facilities, calls it reaction on fee cut verdict

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice (CJP) Saqib Nisar observed today that the private schools’ owners are showing negative reaction over the 20 percent fee cut verdict by cutting down basic facilities to the students.

“The schools are now showing reaction over the fee cut verdict. They are ridiculing the court’s decision; we won’t tolerate such actions. We will put them on trial,” the CJP remarked in a hearing before a three-member bench.

‘Zafran Elahi’ the President of ‘Private Schools Association’ informed the court that the schools will shut down if they give back the fees taken in vacations.

“It’s better if such schools are shut down which are unable to give back fees. You [Zafran Elahi] are trying to blackmail the court,” the CJP observed.

The chief justice said that the verdict on fee cuts by 20 percent on schools charging over Rs 5,000 is applicable to schools present all over the country.

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President ‘Amanullah Kanzai’ informed the court that some schools have adopted a questionable attitude towards students after the fee cut verdict.

“The schools may have cut down the fee but they have also put an end to the facilities to students,” he said.

CJ orders forensic audit of schools not returning fees

The CJP directed the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) to conduct a forensic audit of the schools who have not returned the fees taken during vacations.

Federal Board of Revenue representative told the court that the private schools are tax defaulters of as many as Rs 1.2 billion, adding that action is being taken against seven big private schools but a few of them have taken stay orders.

CJ expressed his concerns over the response and told the department to show him the financial documents of the said schools.