Srinagar, Feb 10: The Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) has directed private schools not to charge any transport fee during winter or summer vacations if transport facilities are outsourced or hired from third parties.
In a fresh circular issued by chairman FFRC Justice (Retd) Sunil Hali, the schools have been warned of strict action including penalties and de-affiliation, for non-compliance of the instructions.
The circular has been issued after the committee received complaints that several private schools were collecting transport charges during vacations despite not owning their transport facilities.
“Some schools operating buses through contractual arrangements with third parties are charging up to 50 percent of the transport fee during vacation periods, in violation of existing orders,” the fresh circular reads.
As per the circular, FFRC through its order issued on June 30, 2025, has stated that the schools that do not own and operate their transport facilities are explicitly barred from collecting any transport fee during vacations.
“It is hereby directed that private schools shall charge 50 percent transport fee only where the transport facilities are owned and operated by the school itself,” FFRC circular reads.
It reads that no transport fee shall be charged during the winter or summer vacations, in case where the transport facilities are outsourced or hired from third parties and are operated under a contractual agreement
“Any fee collected by the private school on this behalf shall be refunded to the parents forthwith, failing which appropriate action under law shall be taken against the school, including imposition of a penalty of one percent of the total revenue and also de‑affiliation of the school,” the FFRC circular reads.
“This order must be strictly complied with by the private schools.”
