Powers and functions of District Fee Appellate Committees

Powers and functions of District Fee Appellate Committees.—

1. (1) The powers and functions of the District Fee Appellate Committee shall be to adjudicate the dispute between the Aggrieved Parents Group or the Management or the Parents Teachers’ Association regarding fee to be charged by the school management.
2. (2) Every school preferring an appeal before the District Fee Appellate Committee shall place the copy of decision in appeal on its website and notice board.
3. (3) The District Fee Appellate Committees may authorise any gazetted officer to enter any school or any premises belonging to the Management of such school.
4. (4) The District Fee Appellate Committee shall regulate their own procedure, for the discharge of their functions, and shall, for the purpose of making any inquiry under this Act, have all powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act No. 5 of 1908) while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely: —
   • (a) the summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness and examining him on oath;
   • (b) the discovery and production of any document;
   • (c) the reception of evidence on affidavits;
   • (d) the issue of commission for the examination of the witness;
5. (5) No order shall be passed by the District Fee Appellate Committees in the absence of the Chairperson.
6. (6) The order of the District Fee Appellate Committee shall be binding on the parties to the proceedings before it for three academic years.
7. (7) The District Fee Appellate Committee shall, communicate its decision regarding the fixation of fees to the parties concerned within thirty days of receipt of an appeal and not beyond forty-five days within the same academic year, failing which the matter stands automatically referred to the Revision Committee, as specified in this Act.
8. (8) The District Fee Appellate Committee shall indicate the different heads under which the fee shall be levied.
9. (9) The Aggrieved Parents Group or the Management or the Parents Teachers’ Association aggrieved by the decision of the District Fee Appellate Committee may, within thirty days from the date of such decision, prefer an appeal before the Revision Committee in such manner as may be prescribed.