Schools not mandated to form School-Level Fee Regulation Committee until next hearing, as High Court reviews new notification
In a significant development concerning the Delhi School Education system, the Delhi High Court has provided temporary relief to minority schools by halting the mandatory formation of the School-Level Fee Regulation Committee (SLFRC) until the next scheduled hearing. The decision comes as the court reviews a challenge against the recent notification mandating the formation of SLFRC by February 11, 2026.
The case, titled "Forum of Minority Schools v. Lt Governor Of Delhi," involves a petition from the Forum of Minority Schools and others who have contested the notification dated February 1, 2026. This notification, known as the Delhi School Education (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2026, required all schools to constitute SLFRCs by the stipulated deadline to regulate school fees effectively. The petitioners have sought an extension of this deadline, citing various challenges to the notification.
The respondents, represented by Mr. S.V. Raju, Additional Solicitor General, opposed the extension, arguing that any delay in forming the SLFRCs would disrupt the fee fixation timeline for the academic years starting from 2026-27. The current timeline mandates that schools submit proposed fee details by February 25, 2026, with the District Fee Appellate Committee to be constituted by March 3, 2026, and final fee decisions by March 27, 2026.
During the hearing, it was noted that the Supreme Court had previously intervened, clarifying that the new law would not be implemented for the academic year 2025-26. With the notification now effective from the 2026-27 academic session, the High Court has emphasized that no prejudice would result from delaying the formation of the SLFRC until the matter is further deliberated on February 20, 2026.
The High Court has directed that no insistence be placed on schools that have not yet formed the SLFRC until the next hearing. The respondents are required to file their responses to the applications within a week, with the matter listed prominently for the upcoming hearing.
This interim order provides a breather to minority schools amid ongoing discussions and legal scrutiny over the new regulatory framework aimed at standardizing school fees in Delhi.
Bottom Line:
Implementation of Delhi School Education (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2026 - Formation of School-Level Fee Regulation Committee (SLFRC) - High Court directs that schools that have not constituted SLFRC shall not be insisted upon to form the committee until the next date of hearing.
Statutory provision(s): Delhi School Education (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2026
Forum of Minority Schools v. Lt Governor Of Delhi, (Delhi)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2851138
