Implementation of Delhi private school fee regulations to begin next academic year

The Delhi government informed the Supreme Court on Feb 2 that the law regulating private school fees will now be implemented from the 2026–2027 academic session, instead of the current 2025–2026 session.

The update came as the Supreme Court heard petitions from private school associations challenging the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, before the Delhi High Court.

According to the 2025 Act, all 1,700 private schools in Delhi will be required to obtain prior government approval before increasing fees.

Earlier, on Jan 19, the Supreme Court had noted that enforcing the law in the ongoing session would be "unviable" and asked the state government to consider postponing its implementation to April 2026.

The court clarified today that its concern was only about rushing the process. With the government now deferring implementation to the next academic session, the Supreme Court disposed of the plea. However, the Delhi High Court will continue to hear challenges from private schools.

Previously, the Delhi School Education Act, 1973, covered only around 300 schools, leaving the majority of private institutions outside the regulatory framework.

Parents have raised concerns over sudden and steep fee increases in recent years. The new Act now brings all 1,700 private, unaided schools under fee regulation, requiring transparency for every fee hike.

Key provisions under the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, include:

• Schools cannot increase fees without government approval
• Penalties for unauthorized fee hikes range from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh for first-time offences
• Repeat violations can attract fines of up to ₹10 lakh
• If excess fees are not refunded within the deadline, penalties double after 20 days, triple after 40 days, and continue to escalate
• Repeat offenders may lose the right to propose future fee hikes and could be barred from holding school management positions

The Act introduces a multi-level committee system involving parents, teachers, school management, and government officials to decide fee increases.

• School-level committees must finalize fee proposals by July 15 each year
• District-level reviews must be completed by July 30
• Final decisions must be taken by September
• Unresolved cases within 45 days will go to an appellate committee

The structure is intended to promote collective decision-making and give parents greater oversight in fee regulation.