Delhi Government Cracks Down on School Fee Hikes with New Bill

The Delhi government announced plans to introduce a bill regulating fee hikes in private schools during the Monsoon Session, said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday. This legislative measure follows a Cabinet-approved ordinance aimed at curbing arbitrary fee increases and imposing strict penalties on violators.

Initially, schools face fines ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for the first breach. Repeated violations could lead to penalties between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. Ignored refunds will see fines doubled after 20 days and tripled after 40 days, eventually leading to a potential ban on school management positions.

Gupta also highlighted other initiatives, such as digitizing the Delhi Legislative Assembly to function as a paperless e-Vidhan Sabha, powered entirely by solar energy. These efforts aim to foster development through digital and sustainable governance as the Delhi Assembly enters its third session under her leadership.

(With inputs from agencies.)