MUMBAI, June 12 -- With complaints pouring in about the exorbitant fee hikes by private schools, the state government has decided to amend the Maharashtra Education Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011. It is expected to do away with the provision that necessitates complaints by a minimum of 25% of parents for action to be taken, and will also introduce an area-wise fee structure based on the operating cost of the schools. The amendments are expected to be on the lines of a fee regulation act existing in Gujarat. Maharashtra's existing fee regulation act has a provision for a fee hike of up to 15% every two years. Individual complaints about fee hikes have been reaching the government but they do not make it to the divisional fee regulatory committee. "Since bringing 25% of parents together to sign a petition is a difficult task, the complaints do not reach the committees," said an official from the school education department. School education minister Dadaji Bhuse, when asked, confirmed that amendments to the act were planned. P3...