NEW DELHI – The Delhi government has announced it will hire six chartered accountants (CAs) to oversee fee reviews for private schools. This decision follows the enactment of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025. The project carries an estimated cost of Rs 86.40 lakh .
These CAs will be assigned to district fee appellate committees and a central revision committee. Their primary role involves examining financial records of private unaided recognised schools throughout the national capital. This oversight aims to ensure fee fixation aligns with the new legislation’s transparency requirements.
The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, officially came into force on August 14, 2025 . It mandates a structured financial review process for school fees.
Committees Under the New Act
The Act establishes a multi-level committee structure to regulate school fees. Each private unaided recognised school must form a School Level Fee Regulation Committee (SLFRC). This committee is empowered to approve fee proposals from school management.
Parents dissatisfied with an SLFRC decision can appeal. An aggrieved group of parents may file an appeal within 30 days . This appeal is submitted to the District Fee Appellate Committee (DFAC).
The law explicitly requires the inclusion of a chartered accountant on every DFAC. A CA is also a mandatory member of the Revision Committee (RC). These professionals provide essential financial expertise at both appellate and revision stages.
Approximately 1,794 private unaided recognised schools operate across Delhi’s 15 districts. All these schools fall under the purview of this fee regulation framework. Their financial documents will undergo examination at the appellate and revision stages by the appointed CAs.
Role of Chartered Accountants in Fee Review
The six selected chartered accountants will be strategically deployed. One CA will serve on the Revision Committee. The remaining five CAs will each manage responsibilities for three District Fee Appellate Committees.
Their duties include several key financial reviews:
- Examining Accounts: CAs independently review audited accounts and financial records of schools.
- Verifying Compliance: They verify adherence to specific fee fixation determinants outlined in the Act.
- Providing Expert Opinions: CAs offer professional financial insights during committee deliberations.
- Drafting Financial Reasoning: They assist in formulating financial justifications for committee orders.
- Ensuring Impartiality: CAs must maintain strict impartiality and recuse themselves in cases of conflict of interest.
Any legal issues arising from CA reports fall under their purview. This includes preparing replies for court proceedings. These additional legal responsibilities are covered within their primary engagement, without extra remuneration.
Oversight and Timelines
The Director of Education possesses broad powers to ensure the Act’s enforcement. The Director can request records from any committee, including school-level, district appellate, or revision committees. This authority ensures all proceedings conform to legal standards.
The Director may also issue specific directions to committees. Cases can be referred for appropriate action. This oversight reinforces legal compliance and process integrity.
The CAs’ engagement period is set for two years . A crucial performance metric is the disposal time for appeals. Each appeal must be resolved within 30 days of its receipt.
Work locations for these CAs include the offices of district deputy directors of education. Services may also be performed at the headquarters of the Directorate of Education. Other locations can be designated by the officer in charge.
This government initiative aims to enhance transparency in the financial operations of private schools. The appointment of chartered accountants provides a robust mechanism for reviewing and regulating school fees, benefiting students and parents across Delhi.