Delhi schools cannot take unregulated fee from April 1, govt. tells HC

The Delhi government on Friday informed the Delhi High Court that private schools cannot collect fees from April 1 for the new academic session, unless it is determined and approved in accordance with the new fee regulation law.

Opposing pleas moved by several schools’ associations seeking a stay on the government mandate to constitute fee regulation committees (SLFRCs) for the upcoming academic year, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju said the consequences would be “disastrous” and no prejudice would be caused to the schools at this stage by forming such a panel.

“My case is that schools cannot charge anything other than the approved fee under the Act [Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act]. They cannot collect from April 1 because the Act prohibits it,” he said.

“The Act prohibited for the earlier year also, but it has somehow been kept in abeyance. From April 1, 2026, if they want to collect fees, which is unregulated, they cannot do it,” Mr. Raju said on behalf of the Delhi government.

“Giving a proposal for fees is allowed (in the Act) prior to the start of the academic year. No prejudice will be caused,” he added.

The court listed the matter for hearing on February 24 and also extended till then the February 10 deadline set by the Delhi government for private schools to form the SLFRCs.

The court asked the senior counsel appearing for the Action Committee Unaided Recognised Private Schools to explain why they did not want to set up the SLFRCs.

Senior advocate Akhil Sibal said the February 1 notification is legally unsustainable as it changes the timeline prescribed in the Act. He said under the Act, the process has to begin in July of the preceding academic year and accused the government of “rushing”.