Provided that no member shall be removed from his office on the above grounds, unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

Powers and Functions of the Fee Regulatory Committee

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 9, the Fee Regulatory Committee shall determine the fee payable by students in the self financed schools.
2. (2) The Committee shall have power to,-
   • (a) require each self financed school to place before the Committee, the proposed fee structure of such school alongwith all relevant documents and books of accounts for scrutiny before such date as may be specified by the Committee;
   • (b) verify whether the fee proposed by the self financed school is justified and whether it amounts to profiteering or charging of exorbitant fee;
   • (c) approve the existing fee structure or determine the fee which can be charged by the self financed school;
   • (d) verify whether the fee collected by the self financed school, operating within the territory of the State of Gujarat, is recognized by the competent State Educational Authority or affiliated to the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board / Central Board of Secondary Education/Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations / IB board or any other board, as the case may be and the school imparts instruction prescribed by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board or any other Board, as referred to above;
   • (e) hear complaints or initiate suo moto hearing with regard to collection of excess fee by a self financed school, as referred to above in Clause (d);
   • (f) regulate the fees charged by the school and penal action as per the provisions of this Act;
   • (g) report the matter to the respective competent Educational Authority that the school has collected excess fee and it has not complied with the provisions of the respective applicable Acts and rules made thereunder of the concerned Board for appropriate action. (3)
   • (a) For the purposes of this Act, the Fee Regulatory Committee while holding inquiry shall have the powers of a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:-
     • (i) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness and examining him on oath;
     • (ii) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
     • (iii) receiving evidence on affidavit; and
     • (iv) issuing commission for examination of witnesses for local inspection.
   • (b) All inquiries and revisions under this Act shall be deemed to be the judicial proceedings within the meaning of sections 193, 219 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code.