Delhi Cabinet approves ordinance to regulate fee hikes; to be implemented retrospectively from April 1

The Hindu

10-06-2025

The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved an ordinance to regulate fee hikes by private schools. Education Minister Ashish Sood, who announced the decision, said the ordinance will be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for approval, following which it will be implemented retrospectively from April 1 this year.
'L-G to take it forward'
Addressing a press conference, the Minister said the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Ordinance, 2025 had been approved in the eighth Cabinet meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party government and that the ordinance would be sent to the President through Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena.
The announcement comes amid growing outrage among students and parents over 'unauthorised' fee hikes and alleged mistreatment of students by private schools.
Mr. Sood said, 'We have paved the way for the [implementation of the] law. From today, the exploitation and extortion [of students and parents] will end. Now, they can confidently plan their family and fees through a fixed process.'
In April, the Cabinet had approved a draft of the Bill, which includes stringent penalties against 'coercive actions' by schools, and fines of up to ₹50,000 per student against schools found to be taking punitive action against students over non-payment of increased fees, such as isolating them in libraries, as alleged by parents of some students at Delhi Public School, Dwarka.
The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025 also mandates the constitution of three regulatory committees at the school, district, and State levels to monitor and approve fee hikes. The draft Bill proposes to impose fines ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh on schools found hiking fees illegally. However, the Bill is yet to be tabled in the Assembly.
'Needs more debate'
While some parents welcomed the announcement about the ordinance, others suggested that the law should be introduced as a Bill through the Assembly after discussion with the relevant stakeholders.
Aprajita Gautam, president of the Delhi Parents' Association, said, 'We welcome the announcement, but it should be introduced through the Assembly route as a Bill after considering suggestions from parents.'
'Subsequently, a copy of the Bill should be made public because lakhs of parents are impacted by it, and have a right to know about the law,' she added.