Gujarat HC orders Seventh Day school to submit bank account proof of cash fee collection

Amid the ongoing hearing in Gujarat High Court, Seventh Day School has been directed to submit proof of all its bank accounts in connection with the issue of collecting fees in cash.

Since the school has been taken over by the state government, several irregularities have come to light during the course of the administration. The high court has strongly reprimanded the school and ordered it to present details of all bank accounts related to the collection of cash fees.

Recently, the Ahmedabad City District Education Officer issued a notice to the school management seeking details of bank accounts, scholarship records, and fee-related information.

However, it has emerged that the school failed to provide these details. Speaking on the matter, Ahmedabad City DEO Rohit Chaudhary stated that the school had been accepting fees in cash from parents in violation of rules.

Additionally, scholarship forms were not being filled, and based on information suggesting irregularities in the scholarship process, the authorities sought detailed records.

Nearly a month ago, the government took over Seventh Day School and appointed the Ahmedabad City District Education Officer as the administrator. During this period, it was observed that despite regulations fixed by the Fee Committee, the school continued to collect fees in cash. In reality, schools are not permitted to accept fees in cash, and this amounted to a violation of fee regulation norms.

Furthermore, the school had not been filling out scholarship forms meant for minority students. As a result, authorities have sought details of scholarship forms submitted over the past five years along with information on the total number of students.