In a major move to bring accountability to school fee structures across the Capital, the Delhi Cabinet has cleared the Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees Bill, 2025, aimed at controlling arbitrary fee hikes and improving transparency in private and aided schools.
The draft legislation covers all 1,677 government-aided and unaided private schools in the national capital. It lays out a clear mechanism for reviewing and revising school fees, which must now adhere to set guidelines determined by independent committees.
The decision follows months of escalating public unrest over what parents describe as excessive, unapproved fee hikes by private institutions. Incidents were reported where students were denied admit cards, removed from class rolls, or confined for delayed payments, sparking widespread protests and court interventions.
What Did CM Rekha Gupta Say?
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, speaking to the press, described the decision as both historic and long overdue. She criticized the lack of legislative clarity in existing education laws dating back to 1973. “No government has ever attempted to correct this injustice. We’re making a permanent change, not just a temporary fix,” Gupta said.
Earlier this month, the Delhi High Court harshly rebuked Delhi Public School in Dwarka for its treatment of students in a fee dispute, calling the school’s actions degrading and stating that such institutions should be shut down if they operate with such disregard for student dignity.
Education Minister Ashish Sood outlined how the new system will work: three expert committees will be created to oversee fee approvals every three years. These panels will consider the school’s facilities and infrastructure and involve representatives from both the teaching staff and parents. Sood emphasised, “We’re ensuring that fee decisions aren’t made behind closed doors. Stakeholders will be involved from day one.”
Opposition Takes a Bid at the Decision
The issue has taken a political turn in recent weeks. Opposition leader Atishi publicly challenged the BJP-led government over the fee crisis, accusing it of failing to act. In response, the government issued notices to several institutions accused of unjustified hikes and began auditing hundreds of schools through district-level teams.
Notably, the Department of Education had dispatched sub-divisional magistrates, government school principals, and finance officers to investigate complaints of coercion, mental harassment, and unfair removal of students.
Widespread demonstrations added pressure on authorities. In September 2024, parents from Maharaja Agrasen Model School in Pitampura accused the school of issuing School Leaving Certificates to students who couldn’t meet a 20% annual fee hike. In Mayur Vihar, Vanasthali Public School faced public outcry after doubling its fees. Similar protests erupted in April 2025 outside DPS Dwarka, drawing media and political attention.
Raising of Fees Will Not be Allowed to Pass Without Regulatory Approval
The Delhi government, in its response, has promised that once the new bill is passed, no school will be allowed to raise fees without regulatory approval. Clear rules will be implemented to protect families from sudden or unexplainable financial demands from schools.
“This isn’t just a step forward for parents it’s a major policy breakthrough,” said Minister Sood, highlighting that these reforms were introduced within the first two months of the new administration.
With legislative approval expected soon, the government says the new system will provide much-needed relief to thousands of families while reinforcing students’ right to education without financial intimidation.
