Punjab Assembly passes bill to curb arbitrary fee hike by private schools
Chandigarh, Aug 10
Putting an end to arbitrary fee hikes by private schools, the Vidhan Sabha unanimously passed the Punjab Regulation of Fees of Un‑Aided Educational Institutions Bill, 2026, by voice vote, paving the way for stronger protection of students and parents against excessive and opaque fee collection.
Under the legislation, private schools will not be allowed to increase fees by more than five per cent in a new academic session. Every amount collected from parents under any head will be treated as a fee and brought under regulation.
The government will also conduct forensic audits of private schools to identify excess collections and ensure that the additional amount is refunded to parents. Violations will attract fines of Rs 50,000 for the first offence, Rs 1 lakh for the second and cancellation of affiliation for the third.
Taking aim at the previous Congress government, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that during Covid‑19, when schools were shut and vehicles were not operating, parents were still forced to pay transport fees. He asserted that such exploitation would no longer be allowed in Punjab. Mann said his government would neither allow education to become a business nor let education mafias flourish in the state.
The Vidhan Sabha also passed eight Bills of infrastructure, taxation, employment, rural development and environmental protection, strengthening the legislative and regulatory framework in the state.
The Punjab Common Infrastructure (Regulation and Maintenance) Amendment Bill, 2026, moved by Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, was passed with a majority. The Punjab Regulation of Fee of Un‑Aided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moved by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, was passed unanimously.
The House also passed three Bills about universities: the Cloud University, Hoshiarpur Bill, 2026; the MS Digital University, Patiala Bill, 2026; and the Physicswallah Digital University, Patiala Bill, 2026. These were moved by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and passed by majority.
The Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moved by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, was passed by majority. The Punjab State Outsourced Personnel (Transition to Contractual Engagement) Bill, 2026, also moved by Cheema, was passed unanimously.
The Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moved by Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, was passed by majority. The Punjab Protection of Trees Bill, 2026, moved by Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, was also passed by majority.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good move by Bhagwant Mann government. During COVID, many schools in Punjab were charging full transport fees even when buses weren't running. That was pure exploitation. However, I hope the government also ensures that schools maintain quality standards—capping fees shouldn't mean compromising on education quality.
Interesting policy. In the US, private schools have more autonomy in setting fees but also face market competition. The 5% cap might be too rigid—what about schools that need to invest in infrastructure or teacher salaries? But I understand the need to protect parents from arbitrary hikes.
As someone working in the education sector, I have mixed feelings. Yes, some schools exploit parents, but most private schools in Punjab already operate on thin margins. The Rs 50,000 fine for first offence might be too harsh for small schools. But I appreciate the intent to protect students and parents from fee mafias.
Great step! My son's school in Jalandhar increased fees by 12% last year citing "infrastructure development" but the building hasn't changed in years. The refund provision for excess collections is exactly what we need. Shame on previous governments for not addressing this earlier. 👏
The education mafia comment by CM is spot on. Having lived in both Punjab and Kerala, I've seen how some schools become profit centers. But I'm curious about the implementation—will the forensic audits be done by independent agencies or government officials? Transparency is key for this to work.
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