HYDERABAD: In a shocking turn to the fee hike issue, students of Sujatha High School, Abids, were allegedly caned repeatedly over the past month for failing to pay up the hiked fee. The incident came to light on Friday after parents demonstrated outside the school.

The scene turned ugly after a violent fight broke out between the parents and the school officials. Accusing the school of 'goondaism', parents said apart from being caned children were also made to stand outside class everyday. Some students were also denied entry into exam halls for the first 30 minutes.

Many parents have refused to pay the hiked fee after a state government order allowed them to stick to last year's fee structure. "My daughter has been missing classes as she was made to stand outside. The board examinations are coming up and she has to stand outside," said M D Khanna, parent of a class X student.

Parents said many children were now refusing to go to school. "My child came back home with cane marks on her hand. She now fears going to school," said a parent at the demonstration. Another said: "The management should ensure that students are not treated badly if their parents are against the fee hike."

The school's annual fee has shot up from Rs 3,500 three years ago to Rs 11,250 this year. Parents are willing to pay only last year's fee of Rs 8,250. The school has now sought a month's time to sort out the issue. School principal K Bala Reddy said that the school needs money to pay salaries.

"We asked parents to pay the hiked fee, which will be reimbursed later after we get approval (for hiking the fee) from the District Fee Regulatory Committee (DFRC)," he said. He denied the caning allegation and instead accused the parents of cooking up the story to avoid paying up.

Meanwhile, school education director M S Victoria Kumari said, "Under the Capitation Fee Act, the DFRC will also be able to press charges on erring schools. The parents can file all complaints with DFRC officials."

source: TOI