Legal Retainer for Schools, Colleges, Housing Societies & RWAs

A standing legal adviser for your institution or society

Adv. Mridul Jindal advises schools, colleges, housing societies, apartment owners' associations, RWAs and charitable trusts across Ghaziabad, Noida and Delhi on a retainer or per-matter basis. Information on this page is general; every case depends on its facts.

Situations we handle

• Schools: fee revision under the UP Fee Regulation Act and replies to the District Fee Regulatory Committee
• Schools: POCSO reporting duties, child-safety and POSH policies, and staff training
• Schools and colleges: admissions and RTE disputes, parent complaints, staff contracts and service disputes
• Housing societies and AOAs: maintenance recovery, by-laws, elections and disputes before the Registrar
• Builder handover of common areas, RERA complaints and defects in common facilities
• Trusts and NGOs: trust deeds, vendor and lease agreements, notices and property matters

How a retainer for an institution works

1. First review — we study your registration documents, by-laws or trust deed, existing contracts and pending disputes.
2. Written scope — an engagement letter sets out what is covered each month, response times, what is billed per matter, and the fee.
3. Ongoing support — advice to the management committee or principal, drafting and vetting, notices and replies, and regulatory filings.
4. Disputes — early settlement where possible; court, consumer forum, RERA or Registrar proceedings handled per matter as agreed.

Documents to keep ready

• Registration certificate, by-laws, trust deed or memorandum
• Recognition or affiliation papers (for schools)
• Current fee structure and fee committee records (for schools)
• Builder agreements and handover papers (for societies)
• Pending notices, complaints and court papers
• Standard contracts with staff, vendors and service providers

The law that applies

Self-financed schools in Uttar Pradesh are governed by the Uttar Pradesh Self-Financed Independent Schools (Fee Regulation) Act, 2018, under which fees may be revised within the permitted limit, a larger increase needs the approval of the District Fee Regulatory Committee, and the Committee can act on complaints and impose penalties. Schools must also meet duties under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, the reporting obligations in Sections 19 and 21 of the POCSO Act, 2012, the POSH Act, 2013 for workplaces with ten or more employees, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 for children's data.

Apartment owners' associations in Uttar Pradesh are formed under the Uttar Pradesh Apartment (Promotion of Construction, Ownership and Maintenance) Act, 2010 and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860; the Allahabad High Court has held that every apartment owner is entitled to membership and that the promoter cannot obstruct formation of the association. Disputes over elections and management can go to the prescribed authority under Section 25 of the Societies Registration Act, and builder-related issues to UP RERA or the consumer forum. In Delhi, comparable issues arise under the Delhi Apartment Ownership Act, 1986 and the Delhi Co-operative Societies Act, 2003.

Read more: Legal retainer for companies and startups · RWA and apartment owners' disputes, Ghaziabad · RERA lawyer in Ghaziabad · POSH complaints, Delhi NCR.

Where we act for institutions and societies

• Civil courts, consumer commissions and the District Fee Regulatory Committee, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida)
• Registrar of Firms, Societies and Chits and the prescribed authority under the Societies Registration Act; UP RERA
• Allahabad High Court, Delhi High Court and Supreme Court of India (through an Advocate-on-Record) where required

Enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi (D/3547/2021); member of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Also serving: Indirapuram · Vaishali · Raj Nagar Extension · Noida · Greater Noida