New Delhi – The Delhi Cabinet has approved a groundbreaking Delhi fee regulation bill aimed at preventing private schools from arbitrarily increasing fees without proper oversight. The draft legislation, officially titled the “Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025,” was passed on Tuesday following months of sustained protests by parents across the capital city against unexpected and substantial fee hikes.
This Delhi fee regulation bill will affect all 1,677 aided and unaided private schools in Delhi, establishing clear guidelines and procedures that must be followed before any fee increases can be implemented. The move represents one of the most comprehensive attempts to address the long-standing issue of unregulated school fee hikes that has burdened countless families across the National Capital Region.
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“We have passed a draft Delhi fee regulation bill in the Cabinet meeting, applicable to all 1,677 aided and unaided private schools, to fix guidelines and procedures for fee hikes,” said Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a press conference announcing the decision. She emphasized that the Delhi fee regulation bill would empower parents and bring much-needed transparency to school finances.
Three-Tier Committee Structure Under Delhi Fee Regulation Bill
The Delhi fee regulation bill introduces a comprehensive three-level committee structure designed to ensure fair decision-making regarding school fees. This multi-tiered approach aims to balance the legitimate financial needs of educational institutions with the concerns of parents about affordability and transparency.
At the foundation of this structure is the school-level fee regulation committee, which will be the first to review any proposed fee changes. According to the Delhi fee regulation bill, this committee will comprise six members from each school, including the principal and three teachers, along with five parents or guardians and a representative from the Directorate of Education.
The Delhi fee regulation bill specifies that parent representatives will include two women and one parent from a reserved category, all selected through a fair lottery system conducted by the Parent Teacher Association. This diverse composition ensures that various perspectives are considered when evaluating fee increase proposals at the school level.
Appeals Process Established Under Delhi Fee Regulation Bill
If either schools or parents are dissatisfied with decisions made by the school-level committee, the Delhi fee regulation bill creates a clear path for appeals. A district-level committee consisting of seven members will hear these appeals and must submit its recommendations within a 30-45 day timeframe.
Education Minister Ashish Sood explained that the Delhi fee regulation bill further allows for a final appeal to the state-level committee if appellants remain unsatisfied with the district committee’s determination. “The state-level committee will be the final appellate authority, which will make decisions binding for three academic years,” Sood clarified during the announcement of the Delhi fee regulation bill.
This appeals process represents a significant component of the Delhi fee regulation bill, ensuring that both educational institutions and families have multiple opportunities to present their cases before a final decision is reached on fee structures.
Strict Penalties Under Delhi Fee Regulation Bill for Non-Compliance
The Delhi fee regulation bill includes robust enforcement mechanisms with substantial financial penalties for schools that violate its provisions. Schools found disregarding the established procedures could face fines of up to Rs 10 lakh, according to Chief Minister Gupta.
Additionally, the Delhi fee regulation bill prohibits schools from taking punitive measures against students whose parents challenge fee increases. “Schools cannot take any coercive steps against students, such as making them sit in a library instead of attending classes,” Minister Sood emphasized. “Schools violating this will be slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000 per student complaint under the Delhi fee regulation bill. The fine will be doubled if the school does not submit it within 20 days.”
These strict penalties demonstrate the government’s commitment to ensuring the Delhi fee regulation bill has real consequences for non-compliance, protecting families from potential retribution when exercising their rights under the new legislation.
Factors Considered Under Delhi Fee Regulation Bill for Fee Determination
The Delhi fee regulation bill outlines specific criteria that committees must consider when evaluating proposed fee increases. According to government sources, these factors include the school’s location, educational standards, infrastructure and facilities, maintenance expenditure, funds received from NRIs or charitable sources, teacher salaries, and any revenue surplus.
This comprehensive evaluation framework established by the cabinet aims to ensure that fee increases are justified based on legitimate financial needs rather than arbitrary decisions. By standardizing the criteria used to assess fee hike proposals, the Delhi fee regulation bill creates predictability and fairness for both schools and families.
Timeline for Implementation of Delhi Fee Regulation Bill
The Delhi fee regulation bill establishes a clear timeline for the formation of school-level committees, which must be constituted by July 31 to discuss fee adjustments for the upcoming academic year. These committees will have 30 days to submit their reports, with provisions for district-level intervention if they fail to meet this deadline.
“Once this law is enacted, by October, parents will be able to decide clearly whether to keep their children in the same school or explore other options,” Chief Minister Gupta stated regarding the fee regulation bill timeline. “They will no longer need to beg for assistance or solutions.”
This structured timeline ensures that the Delhi fee regulation bill will have immediate practical impact, providing clarity for families planning their educational expenses for the next academic year.
Background and Need for Delhi Fee Regulation Bill
The Delhi fee regulation bill comes after extensive research and consultation by the government. Chief Minister Gupta noted that District Magistrates were dispatched to conduct detailed studies of school fee practices across the capital, revealing significant irregularities and a lack of standardized procedures.
“Several parents complained that school administrations were pressuring their children in school over fees,” Gupta explained, highlighting the urgency behind the Delhi fee regulation bill. “We found that no previous government took any steps to regulate fee hikes.”
The government also examined similar legislation in states like Haryana and Maharashtra before drafting the Delhi fee regulation bill, ensuring that best practices from across India were incorporated into the capital’s approach to fee regulation.
Current Enforcement Actions Alongside Delhi Fee Regulation Bill
Even as the Delhi fee regulation bill moves toward implementation, authorities have already begun addressing fee-related complaints across the city. As of April 28, inspections have been conducted in 970 schools, with notices issued to over 150 institutions regarding inappropriate fee increases.
The Directorate of Education had previously announced investigations into private unaided schools “illegally hiking” fees, with potential consequences including de-recognition and possible government takeover of school managements. These ongoing enforcement actions complement the systemic reforms introduced through the Delhi fee regulation bill.
Closing Remarks: Impact of The Bill on Educational Landscape
The new fee regulation bill represents a significant shift in how educational costs are determined and regulated in the capital region. By creating a transparent, multi-level review process with clear criteria and strong enforcement mechanisms, the bill aims to balance the financial sustainability of schools with affordability for families.
“This bill is going to be a lifeline for parents because now they will have decision-making power,” concluded Chief Minister Gupta, emphasizing the legislation’s potential to transform the relationship between educational institutions and the communities they serve.
For the 1,677 private schools affected and the thousands of families they educate, the fee regulation bill promises to bring unprecedented clarity, fairness, and parent involvement to decisions that significantly impact household budgets and educational opportunities across the capital.
