Delhi cabinet approves draft bill to regulate fees in private, government schools

The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft Bill to regulate fees in private schools in the national capital, Chief Minister Rekha Guptaand Education Minister Ashish Sood announced, amid growing complaints from parents about “arbitrary” fee hikes. The Bill, aimed at preventing arbitrary fee increases starting next academic session, stipulates the formation of three committees — at the school, district, and State levels — to regulate hikes. Schools found increasing fees without approval will face penalties ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh.

This development follows recent protests by parents of students in various private schools, alleging unjustified fee hikes. In Delhi Public School (DPS), Dwarka, which was at the centre of the controversy, fee defaulters were reportedly made to sit in the library and denied entry to classrooms. The government has included penalties for such “coercive action”.

The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Draft Bill, 2025, aims to ensure transparency and regulation in the process of increasing fees. It includes a provision for fines of ₹50,000 per student for “coercive” practices such as isolating defaulters, Mr. Sood said. The earlier Delhi School Education Act, 1973 did not contain such clauses.