Delhi schools challenge fee law, SC flags mid-academic year implementation

The Supreme Court on Monday raised questions over the Delhi government’s timing in enforcing the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025 , observing that its implementation midway through the academic year appeared “confused and potentially unworkable.”

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe was hearing petitions filed by associations of private unaided schools challenging the Act and its associated rules. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi , representing the schools, argued that the manner in which the legislation was being implemented was contrary to the scheme of the law and posed practical difficulties for institutions.

The Supreme Court, however, indicated that it was not inclined to stay the legislation at this stage , while stressing that its implementation must strictly follow statutory timelines .

The recently notified Act aims to regulate school fees in the national capital by laying down detailed provisions on permissible fee heads, accounting practices, and restrictions on additional charges. The law also prohibits capitation fees and any fee collection beyond what is approved under the Act.

Earlier this month, the Delhi High Court , while refusing to stay a notification directing private schools to constitute fee regulation committees, extended the deadline for setting up these panels from January 10 to January 20 . It also extended the last date for schools to submit proposed fees to these committees from January 25 to February 5 .

The Supreme Court’s observations highlight the challenges of enforcing new regulations during an ongoing academic session , underscoring the need for careful coordination between the government and schools to ensure smooth compliance without disrupting academic operations.

With fee fixation under scrutiny, schools now face the dual task of adhering to the transparency requirements and ensuring that any fee changes are implemented in a manner consistent with both the law and the academic calendar. Parents and school managements alike are closely monitoring the situation, as the rules aim to bring clarity and accountability to the fee structure in Delhi’s private education sector.