Ahmedabad: Around 133 grant-in-aid schools in the city have been issued final recovery notices by the district education officer for failing to return approximately Rs 2.9 crore received in excess of their entitled grants. Despite multiple reminders, the institutions have not refunded the surplus amounts, officials said.

According to officials, government grants are disbursed annually to aided schools based on student enrolment figures, with accounts audited at the end of each financial year. Any excess amount released must be refunded. Records indicate that at least 14 schools individually owe sums ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 62.6 lakh, with Jay Somnath School in Maninagar alone accounting for Rs 62.5 lakh.

The DEO has instructed all defaulting schools to deposit the pending amounts without delay and submit proof of payment. Institutions that have already cleared their dues have also been directed to provide receipts for verification.

Officials added that while notices had been issued earlier, stricter measures are now being enforced. In case of continued non-compliance, the education department may recommend the district collector impose a lien on the properties of defaulting schools to facilitate recovery through legal channels. DeshGujarat