Dhaka – The chamber court on Wednesday upheld a High Court verdict that declared collection of value added tax (VAT) on the tuition fees of the students of English medium schools illegal, until further order.The Chamber Judge of Appellate Division Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain did not pass any order on a petition filed by the government seeking a stay on the HC verdict.
The Chamber Judge sent the stay petition to the SC’s full bench for hearing the petition on January 2 next year.
The HC verdict declaring imposition of VAT on the tuition fees of English medium students illegal will remain in force until further order of the SC, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said.
In a verdict, the HC on December 12 declared illegal the collection of VAT on the English medium schools’ tuition fees.
It also directed the National Board of Revenue not to impose 7.5 per cent value-added tax on tuition fees from English Medium students from January.
In response to the writ petition, which was filed by two guardians Md Faizul Islam and Md Selim Azam, the HC on September 17 last year stayed for six months the collection of VAT on tuition fees of English medium school students.
In 2010, the government imposed 4.5 percent VAT on fees and services in English medium schools. In the budget for fiscal 2014-15, the VAT was raised to 7.5 percent. – Staff Reporter
