Bill lacks transparency, says Delhi Cong chief

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Sunday criticised the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, calling it “misleading” and accusing the government of diverting attention from the core issue of arbitrary fee hikes by schools.

He alleged that the government’s approach reflects “insensitivity”, pointing out its indecision over whether to introduce the Bill as an Ordinance or pass it through the Assembly despite being in power for five months.

“The bill stipulates that a complaint can only go to the District Fee Appellate Committee if at least 15 per cent of parents collectively apply, which will distance ordinary parents from access to justice, allowing school management to act arbitrarily,” he said.

Yadav further claimed that the AAP government had failed to create clear guidelines to curb fee hikes in private schools and that this Bill repeated that mistake. He also expressed concern over the formation of fee determination committees, alleging that their composition would remain entirely under the control of schools, undermining the promise of transparency.

“Instead of bringing in transparency, this Bill is creating multiple layers of control and complexity, which will further escalate disputes and litigation between schools and parents,” he said. He also questioned the government’s silence on the selection process for the parents’ representatives in the fee regulation committees.

“How will the ‘Parents’ Representative’ be chosen? Will there be elections for parents across all private schools in Delhi? Wouldn’t this process resemble a general election for the entire city?” asked the former MLA from Badli.

“Additionally, how many unaided private schools have a legitimate, active Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)? If there isn’t one, how will it be possible to select five parents for the school-level fee regulation committee?” he added.

Calling for a rethink, Yadav demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Bill and urged the government to formulate a practical, transparent and just law through consultation with all stakeholders, including parents, educators and students.