Maharashtra Government Revives Key Fee Oversight Mechanism for Private Schools
In a significant administrative move aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight, the Maharashtra state government has officially reconstituted the long-dormant fee revision committee established under the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011. This action effectively restores a crucial appellate mechanism that had remained largely inactive and defunct for several years, addressing a critical gap in the governance of private school fee structures across the state.
Leadership and Structure of the Revived Committee
The reconstituted committee will be chaired by retired Bombay High Court Judge M G Gaikwad, bringing considerable judicial expertise to the role. The joint director of education based in Pune will serve as the ex-officio member-secretary, ensuring administrative continuity and coordination with the education department.
Empowered under Section 11 of the 2011 Act, this committee functions as the final appellate authority in all fee-related disputes between private schools and parents. Its mandate includes the authority to call for official records, thoroughly examine decisions made by lower-level fee regulatory panels, and issue binding orders that can revise or completely set aside existing fee structures deemed inappropriate or excessive.
Regional Divisional Committees Also Reconstituted
At the regional level, the government has simultaneously reconstituted the divisional fee regulatory committees (DFRCs) to ensure comprehensive coverage across Maharashtra's major educational hubs. These panels will be headed by retired district judges with specific regional assignments:
- M S Gupta will chair the Mumbai divisional committee
- S S Gulhane will lead the Pune divisional committee
- O P Jaiswal will head the Nagpur divisional committee
- K R Devsarkar will chair the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar divisional committee
Each divisional committee will have the respective deputy director of education acting as ex-officio member-secretary, creating a structured hierarchy of oversight and appeal mechanisms throughout the state's education system.
Legal Framework Governing Fee Increases
The 2011 Act establishes clear parameters for fee adjustments in private educational institutions. Schools that have not declared a long-term fee structure are permitted to propose increases of up to 15% over the previous year's fees, with such revisions typically allowed only once every two years under normal circumstances.
Any proposed increase that exceeds this 15% threshold or attempts to implement hikes more frequently than the biennial schedule requires either the consent of at least 76% of parents or must be justified as addressing unforeseen and exceptional circumstances. During ongoing fee disputes, schools are legally restricted to collecting only the previous year's fee plus a maximum of 15% or the proposed new fee, whichever amount is lower, until the appellate committee issues a final binding order.
Parental Recourse and Procedural Requirements
Parents who believe their children's schools have implemented fee hikes beyond permissible limits or without following due process can approach the committees through the deputy director of education's office located at Charni Road in Mumbai. The law further mandates that any proposed fee increases must be presented before the Parent-Teacher Association at least six months in advance, ensuring adequate time for discussion, consultation, and potential objection.
Administrative Challenges and Official Explanation
Deputy Secretary Sameer Sawant addressed the considerable delay in reconstituting these committees, explaining that procedural requirements significantly contributed to the timeline. "As these appointments mandate that the chairperson must be a retired judge, we faced unavoidable delays since formal recommendations must originate from the district court level and then proceed through the high court system," he stated, highlighting the careful judicial vetting process involved in such appointments.
This comprehensive revival of fee oversight mechanisms represents a substantial step toward restoring balance and accountability in Maharashtra's private education sector, providing parents with formal channels to address concerns about escalating educational costs while ensuring schools operate within a clear regulatory framework.
