Delhi govt approves draft bill to regulate fees in private, state-run schools amid hike complaints

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. (File photo/PTI)

The Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees 2025 Bill on Tuesday was approved during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

"...I feel overjoyed to tell you that Delhi Government has made a historic and brave decision, and the draft Bill has been passed by the Cabinet today. A complete guideline, procedure for fees will be decided for all 1677 schools in Delhi, whether that is aided, non-aided, private and all kinds of schools. For the first time in history such a Bill is being drafted by the Delhi Government which is foolproof..." said CM Gupta while addressing a presser.

Gupta said that the issue was discussed widely in recent days and there was "panic" among the parents due to activities of some schools and complaints regarding "harassment" of students in the name of fee hike. "The previous governments in Delhi made no provision to prevent fee hike. There was no guideline to help government prevent fee hike by private schools," she said.

Education minister Ashish Sood said that the Bill proposes formation of a three-tier committees to regulate fee hikes.  According to Sood,  three committees will be formed to implement the new rules. The panels will decide on fees for three years, based on the school infrastructure.

School teachers and parents will also be involved in the decision-making process.  "Three teachers and five parents will be part of the process. These members will be selected through a draw and will decide on the fee for three years," he told NDTV.

Responding to mounting complaints from parents and students, the Delhi government recently said it had launched a widespread crackdown on schools accused of imposing arbitrary and exorbitant fee hikes.