Daijiworld Media Network – Delhi

Delhi, Aug 16: The Delhi government has brought all 1,700 private schools in the city under a new fee regulation law, ensuring parental participation and veto power over fee hikes, Education Minister Ashish Sood announced on Friday.

Speaking at a 'Parents' Town Hall' in Janakpuri, Sood said the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, passed during the Monsoon Session, aims to end arbitrary fee increases and ensure transparency in the fee fixation process. Around 200 parents attended the interaction.

Under the new Act, schools that raise fees without government approval face fines ranging from Rs 1 lac to Rs 10 lac, with double penalties if excess charges are not refunded. The Director of Education has powers similar to a sub-divisional magistrate to enforce uniform action, and committees comprising parents, teachers, school management, and government representatives will participate in setting school fees.

Sood highlighted that the law closes a loophole in the 1973 rules, which only covered 300 schools, and criticised previous governments for failing to establish a transparent system. Decisions on fee proposals must now be made by school-level committees by July 15, district-level committees by July 30, and finalised by September, with unresolved cases referred to an appellate committee.

The law was drafted after consultations with parents and education experts to curb the commercialisation of education and safeguard student interests.