In a significant move aimed at bringing transparency to the fee structures of private schools, the Delhi government has issued a strict deadline for educational institutions. Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood announced on Wednesday that every school in the national capital must constitute a school-level fee regulation committee by January 10, 2026.
New Law for Fee Transparency
This directive is a key component of the newly enacted Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025. The law, which will be implemented for the 2025-26 academic session, functions as a supplementary measure to the Delhi School Education Act of 1973. Minister Sood emphasised that the primary objective is to ensure a transparent fee-fixing process and to safeguard the interests of parents, following extensive consultations.
The government has laid down a clear timeline for the rollout of the new rules. Beyond the school-level committee, the formation of a district-level fee appellate committee is also mandatory. The school-level panel will have a crucial task: it must receive and examine the fee structure proposals from the school administration by January 25, 2026. This is a notable shift from the previous deadline of April 1.
Composition and Function of the Committees
The composition of the school-level committee is designed to include all key stakeholders. According to the minister's announcement, the committee will be chaired by the school management and will include the principal, three teachers, and five parents. To ensure impartial oversight, one representative from the Directorate of Education will also be a member.
In a bid to ensure fairness, the members of this committee will be selected through a lottery system. Furthermore, observers will be appointed to monitor the entire process, guaranteeing complete transparency. The committee's primary responsibility is to scrutinise the proposed fee structure and arrive at a decision within a strict 30-day timeframe.
Appeal Mechanism and Government's Stance
What happens if the school-level committee cannot reach a decision in time? Minister Sood clarified that the matter will automatically be referred to the district-level fee appellate committee. This district panel is empowered to adjudicate disputes related to school fees and decide on appeals, providing parents with an institutional and impartial forum for grievance redressal.
Minister Sood stressed that this two-tiered mechanism is designed to eliminate arbitrariness and ensure every decision is rule-based. "The Delhi government does not believe in the politics of confrontation between private and government schools," Sood stated. He highlighted that with around 37–38 lakh children studying in Delhi, every child is equally important to the government. "This law is neither against schools nor against teachers," he added, framing it as a solution-oriented approach.
The minister expressed confidence that the new system would provide a permanent answer to the perennial question parents face: "What will happen to school fees this year?" He reiterated the government's dual commitment: to prevent the exploitation of parents while providing schools with a clear, predictable regulatory framework.
