The Delhi High Court has put the Delhi government’s February 1 notification on hold, which required private schools to form School Level Fee Regulation Committees. For the 2026–27 academic year, schools can continue charging last year’s fees until the case is finally decided.
The Delhi High Court has given major interim relief to private schools in the national capital by staying the Delhi government’s February 1 notification that made it compulsory to form School Level Fee Regulation Committees (SLFRCs). This decision brings temporary clarity for schools and parents ahead of the 2026–27 academic session.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia ordered that the notification will remain in abeyance until the court finally decides the petitions challenging it. This means that, for now, private unaided schools in Delhi are not required to form the committees or submit fresh fee proposals as directed in the notification.
As per the February 1 gazette notification, private unaided schools were required to set up SLFRCs within 10 days and submit their proposed fee structures for the next three academic sessions within 14 days after forming the committees. The notification had created urgency and concern among school managements due to the strict timelines.
However, the High Court has now directed that the notification shall remain in abeyance pending final disposal of the petitions. The Bench observed that deferring the constitution of SLFRCs would be appropriate while the matter is under judicial consideration. As a result, clauses 3(1) and 3(2) of the notification have been kept in abeyance.
The matter is scheduled for final hearing on March 12, 2026. Until then, the interim protection will continue.
Importantly, the Court clarified that for the academic year 2026–27, schools can continue to charge the same fees as the previous year. However, this is subject to the final outcome of the case. This direction ensures that there will be status quo in fee collection for now, offering temporary stability to both schools and parents.
ALSO READ: Excess Fees During Covid19 || SC Forms Panel to Examine Financial Status of 17 UP Schools
The petitions challenging the notification were filed by prominent school bodies, including the Delhi Public School Society and the Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools. These associations argued that the February 1 notification changed the timelines prescribed under the Delhi School Education Act and the Delhi School Education Rules. According to them, statutory timelines fixed by law cannot be altered through an executive notification, making the government’s move legally unsustainable.
The petitioners also raised concerns about the practical difficulty of complying with the short deadlines mentioned in the notification. They claimed that forcing schools to immediately constitute committees and submit multi-year fee proposals within such limited time would cause administrative chaos.
After hearing detailed arguments from both sides, the High Court had reserved its order on interim relief on Friday before finally granting the stay.
On behalf of the Delhi government, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju defended the notification. He argued that the timelines mentioned in the Act were not rigid and could be reasonably adjusted depending on circumstances. He submitted that the purpose of the legislation was to prevent commercialisation and profiteering in education and to protect parents from arbitrary fee hikes.
The government further contended that delaying the implementation of the Act could lead to unregulated fee increases, which would adversely affect students and parents. The Directorate of Education had earlier submitted that bringing the Act into effect from April 1 was necessary for effective fee regulation and for checking exploitative practices by some private schools.
Earlier, on February 9, the High Court had already extended the February 10 deadline for forming the SLFRCs, giving temporary breathing space to schools. With the present order keeping key clauses of the notification in abeyance, the immediate pressure on private schools has been lifted.
The final hearing on March 12, 2026, will now be crucial. The High Court’s eventual decision will determine whether the Delhi government can enforce the formation of School Level Fee Regulation Committees and regulate fee structures through the challenged notification. Until then, the existing fee structure will continue, and both schools and parents will await clarity on the future framework for fee regulation in Delhi’s private education sector.
Click Here to Read More Reports on Private Schools
