The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned till February 2 the hearing on petitions challenging the Delhi government’s newly enacted law regulating private school fees, after it was informed that more discussions were needed with state officials.
A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Vijay Bishnoi agreed to defer the matter after Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi government, submitted that a high-level meeting had already taken place and another meeting was scheduled to address pending concerns.
The court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by associations of private unaided schools, who have opposed the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025 and its associated rules.
On January 19, the Supreme Court had questioned the timing of the law’s implementation, pointing out that it was being enforced in the middle of the academic session. The bench had raised concerns about the possible disruption and administrative complications caused by such timing.
The new legislation introduces detailed norms on school fee structures. It specifies what heads under which schools can charge fees, mandates accounting transparency, prohibits collection of capitation fees, and bars any demand beyond what is officially approved.
Private school groups argue that the law curtails their autonomy and introduces sweeping regulatory control that could adversely impact school administration. The Delhi government, on the other hand, has defended the Act as a measure to promote transparency and prevent arbitrary fee hikes.
The Supreme Court will now take up the matter again on February 2.
