Delhi Govt Fee Ordinance Helps Private Schools, Hurts Parents: AAP

Last Updated:June 12, 2025, 20:22 IST

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj on Thursday accused the Delhi government of acting under pressure from private.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj on Thursday accused the Delhi government of succumbing to pressure from private school lobbies by introducing a school fee ordinance without legislative oversight or public consultation, as reported by news agency ANI.

Speaking at a press conference, Bhardwaj claimed that shortly after the formation of the new Delhi government, private schools began arbitrarily increasing fees under various categories such as uniforms, books, stationery, air conditioning, extra classes, and extracurricular activities — all without any recourse for parents. He said these hikes took effect from April 1, despite existing rules requiring prior approval from the Department of Education.

“The government has neither taken action against any school nor directed them to roll back the increased fees. Instead, it quietly passed a law via ordinance, completely bypassing debate or public engagement,” Bhardwaj alleged.

He further accused the government of dodging legislative scrutiny by not placing the bill before the Delhi Legislative Assembly, choosing instead to seek Presidential approval. According to him, details of the ordinance were selectively shared with only two newspapers, while the full text was withheld from the public domain. Bhardwaj argued that the ordinance appeared designed mainly to safeguard the interests of private school owners.

He also criticised the new fee regulation mechanism under the ordinance. “The School-Level Fee Regulation Committee now has the authority to approve fees. This committee consists of school insiders — three teachers, the principal, a management representative — and just one parent chosen by lottery, who may not even be aware of the school’s financial records,” he said.

Bhardwaj added that once the committee approves a fee hike, it becomes valid automatically without the need for Director of Education approval, effectively making the committee a “rubber stamp” for private schools.

He also raised concerns over the penalty provision, which imposes only a ₹50,000 fine if a school charges beyond the committee-approved fee. “Why would schools overcharge when the committee itself will approve inflated fees? This fine will rarely be invoked,” he argued.

Another hurdle, Bhardwaj pointed out, is that parents who wish to contest a fee hike must gather signatures from at least 15 percent of a school’s parents. “In a school of 3,000 students, how will parents find 400 others with addresses and consent for an appeal?” he asked.

Calling the law anti-parent and pro-management, Bhardwaj said the move has let down Delhi’s middle class. He criticised the government for avoiding Assembly debate despite the option of convening a special session. “The government is hiding behind procedural loopholes and evading discussion because it is working to benefit private school owners,” he said.

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Earlier, the Delhi Cabinet had approved the School Fee Act, aiming to regulate fee hikes across private schools in the capital. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had stated that the Act would bring transparency to the fee structures of 1,677 private schools.

Gupta asserted that while previous governments allowed unchecked fee hikes, her administration was taking steps to end arbitrary increases. The Cabinet approved the Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees Bill, 2025, which aims to offer relief to thousands of students and parents in the city.

The bill proposes a three-tier committee system for regulating school fees. At the first level, the School-Level Fee Regulation Committee would include a Department of Education nominee, five parents selected via lottery (including at least two women and one SC/ST representative), along with school representatives.

The second level involves the District-Level Committee, which addresses cases unresolved at the school level within 30 days. If still unresolved, the matter moves to the third level — the State-Level Committee — within 30 to 45 days.

Parents representing at least 15 percent of a school’s student population can directly approach the district committee if dissatisfied with the decision at the school level. Schools violating the provisions could face penalties ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh for non-compliance or bypassing procedures.

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