In a move aimed at ensuring transparency in the education sector, the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed all private schools to prominently display their government-approved fee structures on school notice boards. The verdict comes amid longstanding complaints from parents alleging that several private educational institutions have been charging fees far exceeding the limits prescribed by the state authorities. The issue had triggered widespread demands for stricter regulation and accountability in fee collection practices.
Earlier, on May 25, they had instructed private schools to publicly display their approved tuition fees. This directive was reinforced on June 1, when the Director of Private Schools issued a circular making compliance mandatory for all institutions, including nursery, primary, matriculation, CBSE, and other board-affiliated schools.
Private schools oppose the directive —
While the move was welcomed by parents and education activists, private school managements opposed the directive, arguing that they were not bound by such disclosure norms. Challenging the order, K. Palaniyappan, General Secretary of the, filed a petition before the High Court seeking to quash the directive.
The petition was heard by Justice M. Dhandapani, who, after considering arguments from both sides, observed that even though private schools may not fall directly under the purview of the norms, they are still obligated to maintain transparency. Upholding the government’s stance, the court dismissed the petition and made it mandatory for all private schools in the state to display their approved fee structures in areas accessible to parents and the general public.
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