KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has instructed the director general inspection and registration of private schools Sindh to implement a law about concession in fees during the Covid-19 pandemic in all educational institutions in the province.

While disposing of two petitions moved by an NGO and All Sindh Parents’ Association, the two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar also directed the DG to file first compliance report within 20 days.

The bench in its order said that basically the petitioners have approached the court for enforcement of relevant sections of Sindh Covid-19 Emergency Relief Ordinance, 2020 regarding 20 per cent concession to students in fees of the educational institutions in Sindh during the pandemic.

The petitioners contended that various educational institutions were not implementing the law and charging 100pc fee from the students.

The bench further said that during an earlier hearing, advocate general Sindh had given clear statement that the law was in the field and in case of any violation the competent authority should take action in accordance with the law.

An additional advocate general reiterated the statement of the AG and submitted that DG inspection and registration of private schools was responsible to implement the law. The AAG further said that he has no objection if this petition was allowed and added that the ordinance in question has now become an act which will be notified in official gazette.

The DG undertook to take necessary action across the board against the violation and assured the bench that he will strictly implement the law.

The bench in its order said that by consent, the petitions were disposed of with the directions to the DG inspection and registration of private schools to implement the law in all educational institutions in Sindh and file first compliance report within 20 days.

Though it is the responsibility of the DG who is the competent authority to implement the law in its letter and spirit, the parents may also lodge their individual complaints in the office of DG and immediately after receiving their complaints the DG shall take action strictly in accordance with law, it concluded.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2020