Recently, a wave of parents hit the streets of Delhi to voice their frustration over rising fees at various private schools. On Tuesday morning, things got chaotic outside Delhi Public School (DPS) Dwarka when several students were turned away at the gates due to unpaid fees, prompting furious parents to rally in protest.
These students were part of a group of 29 who were expelled by the school, which cited legal reasons for the immediate action taken on May 9.
However, parents accused the school of mishandling the situation and disregarding a Delhi High Court ruling from the previous month. They also reported that bouncers were present at the entrance, and many students were sent home on school buses without any prior notice.
One parent of a Class XI student described the experience as traumatic. “We were taken aback when the school forcibly put our kids on buses and sent them home without any communication. We had no idea where they were for a while. It was completely insensitive,” the parent shared.
At DPS Dwarka, the debate over fee hikes has been a hot topic for quite some time now. Back in April, an eight-member inspection committee, headed by District Magistrate (Southwest) Lakshay Singhal, raised concerns about unfair treatment of students at the school. These students were not only kept from attending regular classes but were also confined to the library, had limited access to the canteen, faced isolation from their peers, and were closely monitored by guards during restroom breaks.
In response, the Delhi Cabinet greenlit a draft Bill — the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation & Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that this legislation will apply to all private schools in the city, aiming to establish “transparent, strict, and clear provisions regarding how school fees are determined.”
What sparked this latest controversy? DPS
Last Friday, the school sent emails to families affected by the situation, referencing Rule 35 of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973, to explain the expulsions. They claimed that students’ names were being removed from the rolls due to “non-payment of school fees,” despite having sent “various reminders through monthly SMS, emails, phone calls, and a final reminder/show cause notice.”
According to Rule 35, schools have the authority to expel students for non-payment of fees and other dues within 20 days after the payment deadline, or for being absent without leave for six consecutive days. Additionally, it’s mandatory to issue a showcause notice to the parent or guardian before taking such action.
The school’s email further stated, “You are advised not to send your ward to the school. He/she shall not be permitted to enter the school premises. The RFID card of your ward has also been disabled, and if you send your ward to school despite his/her name being struck off from the school rolls, it shall be at your risk and consequence.” It instructed parents to pick up their child’s transfer certificate from the administration department on Tuesday, between 2:30 and 3:00 PM.
A source from the school shared, “Last December, we issued a show cause notice to the parents. Right now, over Rs 1 lakh is outstanding from 130 students, and we’ve already faced a loss of Rs 6 crore because some students have completed Class 12. How are we supposed to recover this money in these situations?”
In response to the parents’ claims, the source pointed fingers at them for misinterpreting the High Court order. “The order is about how we treat students once they’re in the school — it doesn’t prevent us from expelling those who don’t pay. If a child is removed from the rolls, not allowing them entry isn’t a violation,” the source explained.
“The kids are suffering because of their parents and the surrounding politics. We won’t stand for protests outside the school gate.”
In its order from April 16, the High Court described DPS Dwarka’s actions against students as “a very alarming state of affairs” and criticized the school for treating the institution like a “money-making machine.” Justice Sachin Datta prohibited DPS Dwarka from engaging in any discriminatory actions against students due to unpaid fees. The court also instructed the school not to stop these students from interacting with their peers or subject them to any form of bias or humiliation.
Furthermore, the court stated that “any issues the school may have regarding non-payment or insufficient payment of fees must be handled within the framework of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973, the rules established under it, and in accordance with any directions that may arise from ongoing judicial proceedings related to this matter.”
Parents also mentioned that they had previously informed the Directorate of Education about the potential for mass expulsions and indicated that they would pursue legal action.
Also Read:
CUET-UG 2025 Postponed — What Students Need to Know