Mumbai:
Some students of Khar Education Society's Shree Mumbadevi Vidya Mandir School were allegedly confined to the library for five hours three consecutive days, as their parents refused to follow the new school diktat and pay the entire year's fee in advance.
Around 20 parents filed a complaint at Khar police station on Thursday. "On Monday, students who have not yet paid the fees were made to sit in the library from the second period. There were nearly 60 students including those of Standard X. The Standard X students were allowed to return to class the next day, but the rest of us were forced to sit there for three days," said Saurav Baria, 12.
Sub-inspector Sanjay Surve, said, "Inquiry has started. We are taking the students' statements. At the end of the inquiry an FIR may be filed."
"I was not allowed to go out during lunch or even go to the toilet. They would not let us read library books. We just sat in library everyday doodling in our books. They also searched our bags one day to check if we had nicked any copy from the library. It was very embarrassing," alleged Ujala Gupta, studying in Standard IX.
The school had issued a circular in August stating that after an executive meeting with the PTA, the school has hiked fees from Rs15,000 to Rs 23,000. However, parents claimed that the PTA was formed in September.
School trust's representatives were unavailable for comment. Principal Rupa Patil said, "It is between the parents and the management and only they will be in a position to take a stand."
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