MUMBAI: In what activists have termed a 'terror tactic' , a well-known Thane school has sought damages of Rs 5 crore from the parents of two students for allegedly defaming the institution while protesting a fee hike. A law firm representing the trust behind Billabong High International School at Wagle Estate, Thane, sent the legal notice on May 13. It states that the two parents circulated texts and emails accusing the school of "charging high fees and providing inferior quality of education" . Contending that they ran a "vilification campaign" with "mala fide intention" , it calls upon the parents to "tender an unconditional apology... in seven days" . "You are also called upon to pay damages to the tune of Rs 5 crore for the loss suffered (by the school)," it reads. If the parents fail to comply, the school will initiate "civil action". Activist asks edu dept to stop Thane school's 'terror tactic'
The two parents who received legal notices from Billabong High International School, Thane, demanding damages of Rs 5 crore were expectedly in shock.
"Just because we fought for the future of our children, the school is taking out its frustration on us. We would have agreed to pay the hiked fee had the school improved its quality over the years but it did not. We therefore questioned the increase ," said one of the parents. The notice was sent to two of the around 1,500 parents who protested the over-10 % hike proposed last October.
Activists said the Thane school's move was clearly meant to scare parents into submission . "It appears educational institutions have begun frightening parents with legal action. The education department should put an end to this terrorism," said Jayant Jain, president of the Forum for Fairness in Education.
The school's managing trustee, Sandeep Goenka, said Billabong Thane proposed a 12% fee hike after a gap of two years. The revision was suggested to take effect from the 2013-2014 academic year. "Following rules, we asked for parents' consent. While most parents have consented to pay the revised fee, a handful are creating trouble for us," he said. "We were forced to start defamation action against a couple of parents since they have been... instigating other parents."
Parents countered that the school sought the consent of precisely five class representatives (parents representing a class) before making the fee hike official. Aggrieved parents took the issue to the zilla parishad , which asked the school to stay the fee hike and resolve the matter with the parents. But the school insisted on the increased fees, allege the parents. Parents requested for the school's audited accounts to understand the hike, but got none. "The school already charges a huge fee though its education quality has not improved. The school's principal has changed thrice in three years," added another parent.
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