The Delhi High Court has temporarily blocked the city government’s order for private schools to form School-Level Fee Regulation Committees (SLFRCs). This decision provides interim relief to parents, preventing fee hikes for the upcoming academic session.
Court Order Halts Fee Hike Mechanism
The Delhi High Court issued an order Saturday, deferring the implementation of a government mandate. This mandate required private schools to establish SLFRCs for the 2025-2026 academic year. The court stated that the formation of these committees will remain on hold while legal challenges are pending. Schools are allowed to charge the same fees as the previous academic year, 2024-2025 .
A bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia made the decision. The court will hear the final arguments on the petitions on March 12, 2026 . This halts the government’s February 1 notification, which gave schools 10 days to create the committees.
Government Reaction and Parent Impact
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood welcomed the court’s order. He stated it prevents schools from increasing fees until the SLFRCs are formed and the matter is re-evaluated. Schools can only collect fees at the prior academic year’s rates during this period.
Sood added that the government’s authority to review and regulate potential exorbitant fees for the 2025-2026 session remains protected. The Directorate of Education (DoE) will review such cases and take legal action after March 12, depending on the court’s final ruling.
Fee Regulation Oversight
The minister emphasized that the court’s order clarifies no school has an automatic right to increase fees. Any excessive or unreasonable fees collected would be subject to legal regulation. This could include adjustments or refunds.
Sood also alleged that the court’s decision exposes a past nexus between the Aam Aadmi Party, certain NGOs, and private school managements. He claimed this group had previously obstructed fee regulation efforts.