Education Bill cleared to curb arbitrary fee hike in pvt schools

The Delhi Assembly on Friday passed the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, aimed at curbing arbitrary fee hikes by private unaided schools and introducing greater transparency, accountability and parental participation in the fee regulation process.

The legislation, introduced by Education Minister Ashish Sood on August 4 during the Monsoon session, was approved after a four-hour debate and would now be sent to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena for assent. All eight amendments proposed by the AAP were rejected during the voting process, which saw the presence of 41 BJP MLAs and 17 AAP legislators.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta hailed the Bill as a landmark move to protect parents’ rights and bring clarity to the fee structures of private schools. She congratulated Sood for drafting the Bill in consultation with education experts, civil society organisations and parents, calling it a “realistic and decisive” law to safeguard the interests of millions of families across the Capital.

‘Phansi Ghar’ renamed ‘Tiffin Room’

The Delhi Assembly on Friday renamed the so-called ‘Phansi Ghar’ as ‘Tiffin Room’, a day after Speaker Vijender Gupta asserted that there was no such thing as claimed by the previous AAP government, officials said. Gupta said it was decided that the foundation plaque bearing the names of Kejriwal and others be removed. The Speaker had earlier told the House that the structure, which was renovated and inaugurated in 2022 by then CM Kejriwal as a ‘Phansi Ghar’ (execution room), was actually a ‘tiffin room’ as per records. There are two such rooms.

“While Delhi is the capital of India, its soul resides in the middle-class lanes, small flats and the hopes of parents who sacrifice their dreams for their children’s futures,” said Gupta. “Education cannot become a means of profiteering.”

The CM also accused the previous AAP government of mismanaging school infrastructure and failing to ensure transparency. She claimed many schools were still operating under tin sheds and alleged a “classroom scam” involving crores of rupees is currently under court scrutiny. She said AAP had “destroyed parents’ hopes” by failing to appoint teachers or complete school construction projects.

Sood dismissed opposition claims that the Bill permits an annual 10 per cent fee hike, calling them “entirely false.” He argued during AAP’s tenure, fee hikes were routinely approved for dozens of schools each year, including during the pandemic period.

Key provisions of the Bill include mandatory disclosures, requiring schools to provide details of facilities, expenditures and teaching standards before seeking any fee increase. The legislation also prescribes stringent penalties — unauthorised hikes may attract fines ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, which can double if excess fees are not refunded. Repeat violations could lead to de-recognition or government takeover of the school.

Another significant provision is a parental veto mechanism. “If even one out of five members of the fee committee disagrees, fees cannot be increased,” said Sood.

Calling the legislation “balanced,” Sood said it protects parents’ interests without placing “anarchic pressure” on schools and would directly benefit Delhi’s 18 lakh schoolchildren and their families.