DHAKA: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday (January 3) stayed the High Court order that declared the VAT imposed on the tuition fee in English medium schools illegal.

An appellate division bench, led by chief justice (CJ) Surendra Kumar Sinha also fixed January 29 as the next date of hearing on the petition.

Lawyer M Amin Uddin moved for petitioners in the court.

An HC bench comprising Justice Jubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Mozibur Rahman Miah on December 12 in 2016 pronounced that 7.5 percent VAT imposed on the tuition fee in English medium schools illegal.

In 2012, the government imposed 4.5 percent VAT on tuition fees in English medium schools and increased the amount to 7.5 percent in 2015.

On September 16 in that year, challenging the government decision guardians of two students from Sunbeams School and Sunnydale School filed a writ petition with the court.

Secretaries of internal resources division and education and the chairman of national board of revenue (NBR) were made respondents in the writ.

On the next day, the HC stayed the VAT imposition order. Later on October 14, chamber judge of the appellate division stayed the HC stay order.

BDST: 1146 HRS, JAN 03, 2016
SR/SMS