Education – BJP, AAP Trade Charges Over School Fee Row
Education – A political confrontation has intensified in the national capital after allegations surfaced regarding a fee hike and the withholding of students’ roll numbers at Apeejay School in Saket. Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party have exchanged sharp remarks, even as parents await clarity with the CBSE examinations underway.
BJP Questions Delay in Action
Addressing reporters at the Delhi Secretariat on Monday, BJP MLA Harish Khurana said the matter was not new and had been pending since 2020. He questioned why no decisive steps were taken when the issue first emerged, pointing out that the Aam Aadmi Party was in power in Delhi at that time.
Khurana suggested that if the concerns around fee increases and alleged withholding of roll numbers were serious, the previous administration had ample opportunity to act. He accused opposition leaders of raising the matter now for political reasons rather than focusing on long-term solutions.
The BJP legislator also took aim at the AAP leadership, claiming that since losing power in Delhi, its leaders have struggled to accept the electoral verdict. He said that under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the current administration has focused on transparency and governance reforms, which he argued has unsettled the opposition.
Claim of Legal Safeguards Under New Government
Khurana maintained that similar situations had arisen during the earlier government’s tenure and that interventions were made at that time to provide temporary relief to students. According to him, the key difference now is that the present government has enacted legislation intended to permanently address disputes related to school fees.
Referring to provisions of the new law, he said that no student’s roll number can be withheld and that schools are barred from charging additional or unauthorised fees without prior approval. He cited Section 13 of the Act, which, he said, clearly protects parents from arbitrary financial demands.
The BJP leader asserted that the legal framework was introduced to prevent recurring conflicts between private schools and families and to ensure accountability in fee regulation.
AAP Announces School Visit
Meanwhile, AAP’s Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj announced that he would personally visit Apeejay School to ensure that students receive their roll numbers without further delay. In a message shared on the social media platform X, he urged parents not to panic and assured them that he would take steps to facilitate the immediate release of the documents.
Bharadwaj alleged that with CBSE exams beginning this week, students were being placed under unnecessary stress. He claimed that the withholding of roll numbers amounted to pressure tactics aimed at forcing parents to pay increased fees. He further stated that the BJP government and private institutions would not be allowed to act in a manner that harms students’ interests.
Exams Add Urgency to Dispute
The timing of the dispute has heightened concerns, as students are scheduled to appear for their Central Board of Secondary Education examinations. Parents have expressed anxiety over the potential impact on their children’s academic future.
While both parties have traded accusations, the core issue remains the welfare of students and the transparency of fee structures in private schools. The controversy has once again drawn attention to the broader debate over regulation of school fees in Delhi and the balance between institutional autonomy and parental protection.
As the situation develops, parents and students are looking for swift resolution and clear communication from both school authorities and the government to ensure that examinations proceed without disruption.