The Kerala High Court has directed the National University of Advanced Legal Studies, i.e., NUALS to consider waiving fees for the Gym and Transit facility since these services are not at all being used by students in the suspension of physical classes.
In the strange facts and circumstances of the case, the single-judge Bench Justice Amit Rawal was of the view that a 100% waiver on these two areas should have been given. Accordingly, the court directed the Executive Council to reconsider the issue of considering the 100% reduction.
The Bench asked the University to take a final resolution on this aspect, within a period of 15 days. The Court was in the trial of a writ petition filed by 28 students of the University of different semesters. They submitted before the High Court that although they were permitted to deposit fees in instalments in the COVID-19 pandemic situation brought financial crisis, there was no reduction in fees.
They were aggrieved by the imposing of additional charges for facilities that were not being used during the suspension of physical classes. Advocate Santhosh Mathews submitted that reduction on different areas, like 25% on library fees, Information System Facility fee, Electricity Charges, Student's Welfare Fund, Medical/Gym/ Fitness fee, 30% on Sports & Games fee, Moot Court fee, bus fee, 50% reduction on Student's Council fee and debating Society fee, was granted.
It was opposed that since the students are not availing of the Gym facility or bus services, there should have been a 100% reduction under those heads. The Petitioners had relied on a recent verdict of Calcutta High Court in Vineet Ruia v. Principal Secretary, Department of School Education, Government of West Bengal & Ors. where the fees charged by private schools in the State has been slashed by 20%.
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