Delhi gives veto power to parents on School fee hikes

The Delhi Assembly on Friday passed the School Fee Regulation Bill, 2025, which gives veto power to parents in decisions regarding fee hikes, ensuring that school managements cannot unilaterally impose fee increases. Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood, in the Assembly, said, If even a single parent member disagrees, the proposal for fee hike will not be approved. He said they will have veto power, and the management cannot impose its decision unilaterally. According to the provisions of the Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees Bill, 2025, schools found arbitrarily hiking fees could face penalties ranging from fines to losing their right to propose fee revisions in the future.

The Bill lays out that if a school charges fees beyond the permitted limit, it must refund the excess amount within 20 working days. Failing to do so will invite escalating penalties — the fine doubled after 20 days, triple after 40 days, and will continue to increase with every 20-day delay. According to the Bill, a first-time violation will attract a fine between 1 lakh and 5 lakh rupees. Repeat offences will lead to penalties ranging from 2 lakh to 10 lakh rupees. Persistent violators may also be barred from holding official posts in the school management.

The Bill also mandates the formation of three committees to oversee the fee regulation process, one each at the school level, district level and a higher-level Revision Committee, which will act as the final authority in fee-related disputes. The Bill also mentions that while schools retain the autonomy to propose fee structures, it must be done within a prescribed framework. For the academic year 2025-26, the fees already charged from April 1, 2025, will be considered the proposed fees. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) proposed eight amendments to the Bill but they were rejected during voting.

Each private unaided school including those following Indian or foreign curricula, minority-run schools, and those allocated government land at concessional rates will be required to establish a School Level Fee Regulation Committee by July 15 of every academic year, under the bill.It will also include three teachers, five parents (selected by draw of lots), one nominee from the DoE, at least one member from SC/ST/OBC categories, and at least two women. The committee's tenure will be one academic year. Parents cannot serve on the committee for more than two consecutive years and will be eligible for renomination only after a two-year gap. The Bill also mentions that while schools retain the autonomy to propose fee structures, it must be done within a prescribed framework.