Cabinet clears draft Bill to regulate fees in pvt. schools
The Hindu Bureau NEW DELHI
The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft Bill to regulate fees in private schools in the national capital, Chief Minister Rekha Guptaand Education Minister Ashish Sood announced, amid growing complaints from parents about 'arbitrary' fee hikes. The Bill, aimed at preventing arbitrary fee increases starting next academic session, stipulates the formation of three committees — at the school, district, and State levels — to regulate hikes. Schools found increasing fees without approval will face penalties ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
This development follows recent protests by parents of students in various private schools, alleging unjustified fee hikes. In Delhi Public School (DPS), Dwarka, which was at the centre of the controversy, fee defaulters were reportedly made to sit in the library and denied entry to classrooms. The government has included penalties for such 'coercive action'.
The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Draft Bill, 2025, aims to ensure transparency and regulation in the process of increasing fees. It includes a provision for fines of ₹50,000 per student for 'coercive' practices such as isolating defaulters, Mr. Sood said. The earlier Delhi School Education Act, 1973 did not contain such clauses.
'Parents have been constantly struggling with fee hikes. We cracked down on it and sent DM-led committees to schools. The Delhi government has now undertaken the historicpassing of a Bill that will regulate fee hikes in 1,677 schools, whether private, aided, or unaided,' Ms. Gupta said.
Three-level checks
A school-level committee will include a management representative, principal, three teachers, five parents selected by lottery, and a nominee of the Directorate of Education (DoE).
The district-level Fee Appellate Committee will include DoE officials, a chartered accountant, an accounts official, two teacher representatives, and two parent representatives. If over 15% of parents are dissatisfied with the school-level decision, they may escalate their complaint to the district-level committee.
At the State level, a Revision Committee comprisingofficials, an eminent education expert, a chartered accountant, and representatives from schools and parents will serve as the final appellate body. Its decisions will be binding for three academic years.
'By October, decisions on school fees will be made, ensuring parents have clarity before the next session. No school will be able to raise fees arbitrarily,' said Mr. Sood.
AAP slams BJP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticisedthe move, claiming it enables collusion with schools and makes it difficult for parents to file complaints unless they have support from 15% of the parent body.
'Have you rolled back fees at even one school? Have you penalised DPS Dwarka? Not one rollback. You've pushed everything to next year,' said AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj.
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