The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongly opposed the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, during the first day of the Monsoon session of the Delhi Assembly. Calling the bill a “calculated sham,” AAP leaders accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of favoring private school owners rather than safeguarding the interests of parents and students. Former Delhi Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition, Atishi, led the protest, criticizing the government for delaying the bill since April, allegedly to allow private schools to raise fees unchecked.
Atishi claimed that the bill, rather than ensuring transparency, allows school managements to lead the fee fixation committees, creating a clear conflict of interest. She highlighted the absence of provisions to audit school finances, refund hiked fees, or roll back increases already enforced. According to her, schools have collected inflated fees over the past four months by threatening parents, and this bill effectively legitimizes those actions. She demanded that the bill be sent to a Select Committee for broader consultation and called for a freeze on school fees at 2024–25 levels until the legislation is properly reviewed and finalized.
In protest, AAP legislators walked out of the House proceedings. Speaking to the media, Atishi stated that the BJP was colluding with private school owners and introducing laws that stripped parents of any meaningful participation in how school fees are determined. She reiterated the need for wider consultation, the involvement of parents in the policy-making process, and mechanisms to hold private schools accountable for arbitrary fee hikes.
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood introduced the bill in the Assembly, claiming that it would enable the government to regulate private school fees and penalize unjustified increases. However, AAP maintained that the current form of the bill lacks transparency, parental input, and protective measures for families. The party has pledged to continue its resistance until the government addresses these concerns and ensures that the final legislation truly prioritizes the rights of Delhi’s parents and children.
