In a significant decision, a Chandigarh civil court has declared the fee hike implemented by Mount Carmel School in Sector 47 for the 2017-18 academic year illegal. The court has capped the increase at 8%, a move that comes as a relief to hundreds of parents. The school had raised tuition fees from approximately ₹2,100-₹2,775 per month to ₹4,800-₹4,975, prompting 349 parents to file a lawsuit against the institution. They argued that the school failed to provide adequate justification for such a steep increase, which they deemed unreasonable and financially burdensome. The school's defense cited rising operational costs and a merger of annual charges with tuition fees as reasons for the hike. However, the court determined that the school did not provide sufficient grounds for exceeding the 8% cap. The judge emphasized that educational institutions can adjust fees to cover operational expenses, but any increase must be reasonable and substantiated by improvements or additional services. Consequently, the court ordered the school to issue a revised fee structure reflecting the capped increase, ensuring parents are only liable for the approved amount and protecting students from adverse actions related to fee payments.