04-05-2025
Delhi Assembly to regulate private school fee hikes with new bill
New Delhi: A bill aimed at regulating
private school fee hikes
in Delhi is expected to be passed during the special session of the Delhi Assembly scheduled for May 13–14.
The decision was taken after a BJP legislators' meeting at the Delhi secretariat on Sunday to discuss key urban issues.
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Delhi govt recently passed a draft bill to set guidelines for all private and govt schools in the city to regulate school fees. The bill, approved by the cabinet on Tuesday, seeks to establish a clear and transparent procedure for fee structure, preventing arbitrary hikes and ensuring fairness for parents.
Once the bill becomes an act, schools raising fees without permission will face fines of up to Rs 10 lakh, and their recognition could be revoked, according to the draft.
A fee regulation committee will be formed in every school, giving parents direct decision-making power. A three-tier committee system will be implemented for appeals regarding fee disputes, with committees formed at the school, district, and state level.
BJP MLA Ravinder Singh Negi said, "A special session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly is being convened, during which several important bills related to Delhi's development will be discussed.
That is why this session has been called. Some bills may be related to education, and others could address issues like waterlogging with the monsoon. Although the specifics have not yet been disclosed, it has been informed that the Assembly session will take place on the 13 and 14," he said.
BJP MLA Shikha Rai said: "All the MLAs were given direction to take all the schemes to the people. A new bill regarding reforms in school education is being brought, as we have seen uncontrolled hikes in school fees."
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BJP MLA Satish Upadhyay said, "We had a meeting regarding different schemes that all the MLAs have been instructed to take to the people... There is a bill regarding the uncontrolled fee hikes in Delhi schools. We are not against the schools, but we want to help parents... The efforts regarding the waterlogging issues are ongoing, and we will ensure that the national capital doesn't face this issue."
The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) draft bill of 2025 advocates the establishment of school-level fee regulation committees, district fee appellate committees, and a revision committee to oversee fee structures and address grievances.
It also states that there should be representation of all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and members from Scheduled Castes, backward classes, and women, in the school-level fee regulation committees.
The bill mandates the selection of parent and teacher representatives by a draw of lots and decision-making by majority vote within committees. It bars schools from taking coercive action against students for non-payment of fees, such as striking off names from rolls, withholding examination results, denying access to classes or activities, or subjecting students to public humiliation or psychological harassment.
