New Delhi, Aug. 9 -- The Delhi Assembly on Friday passed the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, with the stated aim of curbing "arbitrary" fee hikes by private schools and introducing a long-term framework to address concerns of parents and students. The legislation applies to all 1,677 private unaided schools in the national capital. The bill was tabled by education minister Ashish Sood on Monday and was approved by the Delhi Cabinet in April. It introduces a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism, imposes penalties of up to Rs.10 lakh for violations, and mandates parental participation in the fee determination process. During the discussion on the bill, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Sanjeev Jha proposed that the legislation be referred to a select committee for further scrutiny. The proposal was rejected by voice vote, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holding a majority in the House - 48 members compared to the AAP's 22. The issue of fee hikes had triggered widespread protests over the summer, with parents from across the city raising repeat concerns about steep and unregulated increases in private school fees. Leader of the Opposition Atishi requested a division of votes, but the request was not granted as the BJP held 41 votes against 17 from the opposition. Following this, the AAP MLAs staged a walkout as the bill was passed by voice vote. Chief minister Rekha Gupta said the bill was a landmark step in education reform and would bring long-overdue relief to parents. She said the bill was the result of consultations with parents, school managements, and civil society groups. "After 52 years, Delhi's parents have received justice. The education minister spoke with hundreds of stakeholders to create a bill that truly represents the interest of the public. From the moment a child is born, parents begin worrying about school admissions and rising fees. This law offers them protection," said Gupta. She also criticised the previous Congress and AAP governments, claiming that they failed to address the issue during their tenures. Atishi criticised the bill, calling it a "rubber stamp" for private schools and ineffective in curbing exploitative practices. "The bill endorses unchecked fee hikes. There is no requirement for audits and no right for parents to approach courts for redressal. It is a bill drafted in favour of private schools," she said. Gupta rejected these allegations and said the opposition was raising objections without substance....