Amid long-standing complaints of parents or guardians over irregular and exorbitant fee hikes by private, unaided schools in the national Capital, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Monday said the government will take strict action against private schools that arbitrarily hiked their fees. He accused the previous AAP government of turning a blind eye to such a practice. The minister said a list of such schools has been compiled and each will be inspected. Based on the findings, necessary action will follow.
“Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) led committees have been formed to collect audit reports from all 1677 private schools. The committees include Tehsildars and accounts officials to ensure thorough and impartial investigations,” Sood said while addressing a press conference here.
He revealed that the Education Department has not received any audit reports from private schools over the past 10 years, despite the legal requirement for regular audits. He revealed that in the past 10 years, during the previous government’s tenure, out of 1677 private schools in Delhi, only 75 schools were audited per year.
“The school’s year-on-year fee hikes are under scrutiny. Within the next 10 days, data on fee increases across all private schools will be made public on the Directorate of Education’s website to ensure transparency,” he said. The minister added that all SDMs have been directed to carry out inspections at schools across the city, and institutions will be required to respond to an 18-point questionnaire. He questioned why no action was taken by the previous government against these repeated and significant hikes, and alleged possible collusion between the administration and private institutions.
“Out of 1677 private schools in Delhi, 335 operate on government land and are bound by the Delhi School Education Act of 1973, requiring government approval for fee hikes. Only 114 schools are exempt from this condition. Sood criticised the former government for failing to implement any policy to regulate fee hikes or ensure audit compliance.
Citing a 2004 Delhi High Court judgment in the “Modern School case”, he reiterated that private schools could not hike fees without Directorate of Education (DoE) approval. According to a statement, Sood cited data from a private school in Dwarka that had hiked its fees consecutively from 2020 to 2025 by 7 per cent to 20 per cent.
“Additionally, it has set up an inquiry under District Magistrate Kapashera to check the fee hike done by DPS Dwarka from 2021. The Education Department has launched an official email - ddeact1@gmail.com - under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Education, where parents can report grievances related to unjustified fee hikes. Parents may also file complaints in person at the Directorate of Education offices,” Sood said while addressing a press conference over fee hikes by private and unaided schools in the national Capital.
He said the government will take strict action against private schools that have arbitrarily increased their fees while accusing the previous AAP government of looking the other way when some schools raised the fee during their tenure.
This comes after former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Atishi and AAP leaders have launched an attack on the BJP-ruled Delhi government against the alleged fee hikes. Atishi on Monday alleged that many schools significantly raised their tuition without proper oversight, emboldened by the BJP. “Private schools have started their loot now that there is a BJP government in Delhi. From the very first day, they began increasing fees by a substantial margin,” she said.
Highlighting specific instances, Sood stated that DPS Dwarka increased its fees consecutively over five years-from 2020 to 2025-by 20%, 13%, 9%, 8%, and 7%, respectively. Similarly, Srijan School raised its fees by 35% during the previous government’s tenure and further increased it by 36% in the academic year 2024-25. He alleged that Ahlcon International School misused Rs 15 crore without consent, yet was allowed a 15% fee hike in 2022-23 and a further 13% increase in 2024-25. Angel Public School was issued a notice for financial irregularities worth Rs 42 lakh, but still hiked its fees by 14% in 2022-23.
Similarly, Rukmini Devi Public School increased its fees by 11%, while Lancer’s Convent School raised its fee by 34% in 2024-25. Speaking about Salwan Public School, Shri Sood claimed the institution was involved in a scam worth Rs 1.68 crore and yet hiked its fees by 23.84% in 2023-24 and another 14.68% in 2024-25.
Sood also challenged the former deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to provide proof of fee hike during the BJP tenure. The minister, however, raised concerns about some schools increasing their fees while facing allegations of financial mismanagement during the previous government’s tenure.
Sood accused the opposition of politicising the issue over the past decade and confirmed that audit records from 2024-25 are now being collected and reviewed. Schools found guilty after investigations will face strict action.
“If any evidence is submitted, appropriate action will be taken,” he asserted. Sood claimed that these cases involved discrepancies running into crores, and yet no audits had been conducted.
To ensure accountability, a committee comprising the deputy director and director of accounts has been formed, he said. The department has also created a dedicated email ID where parents can lodge complaints against arbitrary fee hikes, Sood said.
Sood said that schools that fall under the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 have to seek permission from the Directorate of Education before implementing any fee hike.