In a landmark verdict, the Delhi high court put an end to what it called “profiteering and commercialisation of education” and empowered the state government to regulate fee hike by private schools.
The court ruled that fee hike by private unaided schools, who got DDA land at concessional rates, requires prior sanction from the Delhi Government’s education department. The order is expected to curb arbitrary fee hike
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath held, “It is clear that schools cannot indulge in profiteering and commercialisation of school education…Quantum of fees to be charged by unaided schools is subject to regulation by DoE under Delhi Schools Education Act and it is competent to interfere if hike in fee by a particular school is found to be excessive and perceived as indulging in profiteering.”
The court further ordered DoE to ensure compliance. It also directed DDA to take action against those private schools which violate the embargo on fee hike in the letter of allotment of land.
