Delhi defers law on private school fees
The Delhi Government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that law regulating private school fees will come into effect from the 2026-2027 academic session, instead of the ongoing 2025-2026 session. The SC was hearing a batch of petitions filed before the Delhi High Court by private school associations challenging the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, which barred all private schools in the Capital from increasing fees without prior Government approval.The bench left all the issues open for being raised before the Delhi High Court which is hearing a batch of pleas challenging the 2025 Act and its subsequent rules. The SC was hearing pleas challenging a HC order which refused to stay a notification directing private schools here to constitute fee regulation committees.
The Delhi Government recently notified the Act, which lays down detailed provisions on permissible fee heads, accounting practices and restrictions on additional charges, while prohibiting capitation fees and any collection beyond what is approved under the law. The high court, on January 8, had refused to stay a notification directing private schools in the national capital to constitute fee regulation committees but extended the time for setting up such panels from January 10 to January 20. It also said the last date for submission of the fee proposed by school managements to the committees should also be extended from January 25 to February 5.
