Dhaka: The High Court on Monday stayed for one year the collection of additional fees from the students of Viquarunnisa Noon School and College as fixed by its ad hoc committee.

An HC bench of Justice Zinat Ara and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order after preliminary hearing a writ petition.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the formation of the ad hoc committee under section 39 of the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board Regulations-2009 should not be declared illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

The education secretary, chairman of Dhaka Education Board, Dhaka’s deputy commissioner, principal of Viquarunnisa Noon School and College, chairman of its ad hoc committee and five others were made respondents to the rule.

Earlier on Sunday, Advocate Eunus Ali Akondo filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the collection of excessive fees fixed by the ad hoc committee of the educational institution.

According to the section 39 the regulations, the authorities of any private educational institution should form an ad hoc committee for maximum six months if it fails to constitute the governing body or managing committee in time.

The section is contradictory to the section 39 of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Ordinance 1961 and article 11 of the Constitution as there is no regulation to form an ad hoc committee, said Eunus.

He also said the formation of an ad hoc committee is contradictory to the democratic structure.

The Viquarunnisa Noon School and College authorities were taking Tk 300 from each student at school level while Tk 500 at college level as monthly tuition fees as fixed by the ad hoc committee.

Besides, it also took Tk 500 from each student as annual welfare fee for the teachers.