Delhi Chief Minister supports bill to regulate private school fees and increase accountability

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said that the Delhi School Education (Fee Determination and Transparency in Regulation) Bill, 2025, approved a day ago in the Assembly, will check arbitrary increases in private school fees and bring transparency.

Addressing a media conference, Gupta clarified the Bill covers all 1,733 private schools in Delhi, including close to 300 schools that were given land at concessional prices by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). According to her, the legislation is to safeguard parents from unexpected and inexplicable hikes in fees, as well as to ensure schools remain answerable in their financial dealings.

Under the new law, Director of Education will be empowered like a sub-divisional magistrate to take action against violations. Steps include freezing bank accounts and levy of property of schools that are found in violation of the norms.

Unauthorised increase in fees will attract fines of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, with double penalties if payment is tardy.

The Bill compels schools to make a case for any fee increase they propose by producing evidence in the fields of location, infrastructure, operational expenses, and the quality of teaching. 

Parents will also have the power to accept or decline these proposals, which will directly involve them in decision-making.

"This Bill is a shield for the dreams of Delhi's children," Gupta stated. "No one will be permitted to put a price on their ambitions."

Gupta informed that the draft had been drawn up following consultation with education professionals and parent organisations. She added that the intention was to strike a balance between the protection of parental interests and permitting schools to continue functioning effectively.

Alleging that AAP and Congress governments in the past 27 years did not take any concrete measures to cap school fees, Gupta criticized the earlier AAP government and previous governments. "If education was your top priority, why didn't you introduce a legal framework previously?" she asked.

The law also places schools under stricter watch irrespective of their history of land allotment. Officials will now have the authority to inspect accounts and records to ensure adherence.

The Delhi government hopes that the law will tackle long-standing grievances of parents regarding excessive annual increases, particularly in schools in prime areas. The next phase will be to draft rules for implementation of the Bill and establishing complaint redressal mechanisms for parents.

Until now, the government has asserted that the law is aimed at introducing both transparency and accountability into an industry where money matters have long been unchecked.