Justice S.N. Kapoor had on August 10 issued a contempt notice to the school. He had asked the institution to ``religiously'' obey the order of limiting its fee hike to within the permitted 40 per cent. The court then observed that if it failed do so, the principal of the school, Neera Chopra would have to be summoned. The direction followed a contempt petition filed by the parents of the students of the school alleging that despite the high court order, of December 11 and May 4, most of the schools, including Naval Public School, had enhanced the fees beyond permissible limits from April 1 this year.

The school had in its written reply to the contempt notice stated that it was not covered by the December 11 interim order -- of a division bench of the court allowing schools to hike their fee by 40 per cent -- as it was not made a party in that writ. But the counsel for the school conceded in court that the school was indeed covered by the orders. The court recorded the submission of the school in its brief order today. In its reply, the school admitted that it had hiked the fee by 58 per cent for class VI, 63 per cent for class IV and between 53 per cent and 63 per cent in other classes from April 1, 1997.

The hike, according to the institution, would go a long way in meeting the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission.

Counsel for petitioners, Ashok Aggarwal submitted that Naval Public School, situated in the diplomatic area of Chanakyapuri, was harassing students who refused to accept a hike which crossed the 40 per cent mark. Such students were being segregated during Assembly meetings in the mornings and were being humiliated in front of the whole school for not paying the new fees, he alleged.