THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.12224 of 2009 ORDER: The petitioner is an Association of Parents, of students studying in the Niraj Public School, the 4th respondent herein, which is a private institution. The grievance of the petitioner is that the 4th respondent made a phenomenal increase of the fee for the current academic year. The relevant facts and figures are furnished, and it is stated that the increase is, up to the range of 47%. The petitioner contends that the 4th respondent is affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate, the 2nd respondent herein, and within the control of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Department of School Education, the 3rd respondent, and still, the fee was hiked, without the permission, or approval from respondents 1 to 3. According to the petitioner, the action of the 4th respondent is illegal, arbitrary and unreasonable. The writ petition is opposed, mainly by the 4th respondent. It is stated that the fee was enhanced only to meet the increased expenditure, towards payment of salary, maintenance of school, providing infrastructure, etc. An objection is raised as to the maintainability of the writ petition. It is also their case that it is always competent for a private educational institution to fix its fee, and that the Government has no role to play in the matter. Heard Sri G. Vasantha Rayudu, learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Assistant Solicitor General for the Central Government, for respondent Nos. 1 and 2, learned Government Pleader for School Education for respondent No.3, and Sri B. Adinarayana Rao, learned counsel for respondent No.4. The petitioner, no doubt, has a grievance on account of the hike in the fee, since its members have to pay the enhanced amount. However, this Court cannot decide, as to whether the 4th respondent was justified in enhancing the fee. The control of respondents 2 and 3 over the 4th respondent, in this regard, is also very limited. In the recent past, it has become a general phenomenon for parents, of the students, admitted to private institutions, to form an Association, and to raise a tirade against the management, about the quantum of fee. It is not out of place to mention that the category of institutions, imparting school education, is in such a wide range, that depending on the capacity, or choice of a parent, a student can be admitted, where the education is free, or the one, in which the fee is about Rs.1 lakh, per year. When such is the range, having chosen an institution, knowing fully well, the nature of education, and the quantum of fee, the parents may not be that much justified in dragging the institutions, to Courts. If there is any genuine difficulty, and the management of institution is functioning only to make money, the parents can choose another school, or convince the management, to revise the fee structure. In the instant case, the petitioner has straightaway come to this Court, and did not even approach the management, to ventilate their grievance. This Court is not inclined to entertain the writ petition. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed. It is, however, left open to the petitioner to approach the 4th respondent, ventilating their grievance. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dt.10-12-2009. KO