Private schools in Delhi will now have to justify any proposed fee increase against 18 prescribed parameters, including infrastructure development, transportation, safety measures and staff recruitment, before seeking approval from parents, Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Thursday.
The Delhi government has directed all private unaided schools to constitute a School Level Fee Regulation Committee (SLFRC) by July 15 under the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, reported PTI. Schools failing to comply will face strict action, Sood said.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to making quality education affordable and accessible, the minister said education is “a noble service to society, not
a commercial business.”
Schools Must Justify Fee Hikes Under 18 Parameters
Under the new rules, schools proposing a fee revision must present their case before the SLFRC, explaining the need for the increase based on 18 criteria. These include spending on infrastructure, transport facilities, school buildings, safety measures, lighting, staff recruitment and other institutional requirements. Schools must also support their proposals with financial records demonstrating that the hike is linked to genuine improvements.
According to an official statement, every private unaided school must establish an SLFRC comprising representatives of parents, teachers and the school management. Five parent representatives and three teachers will be selected through a publicly announced, video-recorded draw of lots after a mandatory seven-day notice period.
The Directorate of Education (DoE) has also made it compulsory for schools to constitute a Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) each academic year, which will serve as the basis for selecting parent members to the committee.
All parents, guardians and teachers will automatically be included in the draw, while a waiting list of 10 additional members will be prepared to fill any vacancies. The draw must be conducted in the presence of the principal, a teacher not participating in the selection, a PTA representative and a government-appointed observer.
“Any attempt by school managements to influence the draw or bypass the prescribed procedure would invite strict action, including monetary penalties, withdrawal of school recognition or even a government takeover of the school’s management,” the DoE stated in an order.
Schools have also been instructed to preserve video recordings of the draw for at least two years and maintain signed written minutes of the proceedings. Each committee must include at least two women members and ensure representation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or socially and educationally backward classes by drawing members from the waiting list where required.
The DoE has directed schools to submit their proposed fee structures for the next three academic years to the SLFRC by July 31. the report added. These proposals must be accompanied by audited financial statements for the previous three years certified by a chartered accountant. Unaudited or self-certified accounts will not be accepted.
In line with interim directions of the Delhi High Court, private schools will continue charging fees at 2025-26 rates until the revised fee proposals are examined and approved by the regulatory committees. Any excess fee collected during this period will be refunded or adjusted based on the final outcome of the court proceedings.
The SLFRC will function for one academic year and must hold at least one meeting before August 15 to examine the proposed fee structure. Schools have also been asked to display the names of committee members on their notice boards and websites within seven working days of the draw and submit the details to the DoE.
Regional directors and district officials have been instructed to ensure strict implementation of the new provisions, with the department emphasising that protecting the interests of students and parents remains the government’s priority.
