India: Calcutta HC Restrains Rustication or Prevention from Exams if School Fee Not Paid

In a decision seemingly sensitive to the pandemic induced financial sluggishness, the Calcutta High Court has restrained school authorities from preventing board exam writing or rustication if fees are not paid. A bench was hearing a batch of Public Interest Litigations filed by aggrieved parents seeking a partial remission of school fees for the 2021-2022 school year due to the current epidemic, which has forced kids to attend classes only via virtual means. The Bench had previously issued an interim injunction on October 13, 2020, instructing school officials not to expel any student and to provide them with access to online classes if certain requirements were met. In addition, school officials were told to file a supplemental affidavit detailing the payments made in line with the order. The school authorities submitted to the court the reasons why the operation of schools would be affected if fees are not paid. The court stated that full fees needs to be paid in the meantime by October 25^th.