In a landmark move, the Delhi Legislative Assembly passed the Delhi School Education (Fee Determination and Transparency in Regulation) Bill, 2025, following a marathon debate, late on Friday night.
In a statement issued here today, Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly Vijender Gupta stated that the third session of the Eighth Legislative Assembly had concluded.
Stating that three significant legislations were passed during the session, Gupta said that these included The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, The Delhi Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and The Delhi Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, introduced by Ashish Sood, Minister of Education, was discussed over two days with participation from 24 members before being passed by voice vote.
The Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees Bill, 2025, introduces strict measures to stop private schools from raising fees without reason. Schools that charge parents too much may face fines between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for the first offence and up to Rs 10 lakh for repeat violations.
Schools that continue to break the rules could lose the right to suggest future fee changes or hold management positions. If a school collects fees above the approved amount, it must return the extra money within 20 working days.
Delays will lead to increasing penalties; the fine will double after 20 days, triple after 40, and continue to rise over time.
To ensure transparency, the Bill requires a three-tier committee system at the school, district, and state levels, with parents involved at every level.
Further, the Bill also mandates each private, minority-run, or government land-assigned school to create a School-Level Fee Regulation Committee by July 15 each year. This committee will include school staff, a DoE nominee, and five parents chosen by lottery. It must have diversity, with members from SC/ST/OBC communities and women.
The committee must hold its first meeting by August 15, and the names of the members must be displayed within a week of its formation. At the district level, a committee led by the district education director will handle fee disputes. If 15% of parents object to a school’s proposed fee increase, the issue can be taken here.
If it remains unresolved, the matter goes to the Revision Committee, which is the final authority made up of senior education officials, experts, and parent representatives. Its decisions will be binding for three years.
The Bill aims to limit unfair fee increases and gives parents a role in decisions about school fees.
During the four-hour debate on the Bill, Sood said in the assembly, “If even a single parent member disagrees, the proposal for fee hike will not be approved. They will have veto power, and the management cannot impose its decision unilaterally.”
Stating that the Bill will empower parents instead of instilling fear in them, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, “This Bill makes it clear that education will now be based on children’s futures, not on balance sheets.”