Madras High Court orders student’s transfer certificate and mark sheets returned despite ₹97,455 fee arrears

The petitioner studied at the third respondent school from Class VI and passed the SSLC and Class XI examinations.

The school allegedly prevented her from continuing in Class XII because of unpaid fees; after her father’s death, she was unable to continue her studies and sought her Transfer Certificate (TC) and original mark sheets.

Following her representation, the District Educational Officer (DEO) directed her to pay the arrears claimed by the school—Rs. 97,455—before receiving the TC.

She challenged the DEO’s order dated 30 July 2025 and sought the TC and original Class X and XI mark sheets.

Whether the DEO’s order requiring the petitioner to pay the claimed fee arrears before receiving her TC was liable to be set aside

Whether the petitioner’s TC and original educational documents could be withheld for non-payment of school fees

The Court referred to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, observing that the Government had enacted it to secure children’s right to education.

It also relied on its decisions in W.P.(MD) No. 20726 of 2019 (17 October 2019) and W.P. No. 34541 of 2023 (21 March 2024), which it described as reiterating that students’ Transfer Certificates and mark sheets should not be withheld for non-payment of fees.

Although the petitioner referred to Sub-Rule 18 of the Tamil Nadu Private School (Regulation) Rules, 2023, the judgment did not expressly base its decision on that provision.

The Court considered the petitioner’s circumstances, including her father’s death, financial hardship, and inability to continue her education, alongside the school’s demand for Rs. 97,455 and the DEO’s direction that she pay before receiving her TC.

It held that the education authorities should have intervened in the student’s best interests rather than reiterating the school’s demand, and criticised the DEO for placing the petitioner in severe hardship.

Applying the principle in its earlier decisions that educational documents should not be withheld for unpaid fees, the Court set aside the DEO’s order.

The writ petition was disposed of, the connected miscellaneous petition was closed, and the matter was listed for reporting compliance on 26 October 2026.