Watch: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's swift action against school after fee hike controversy

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday took strong exception to schools allegedly harassing parents and students over fee hikes, saying such actions were unacceptable and would invite strict consequences.

In a video shared by news agency ANI, Gupta said, “Parents from various schools have been approaching me with serious complaints. Let me make it clear—no school has the right to harass any parent or child, or threaten them with expulsion or fee hikes."
"There are laws and regulations in place, and they must be followed. Any school found violating these norms will face strict action. We have already issued notices to several schools against which complaints have been received," Gupta further added.

The CM’s remarks come amid growing outrage over disturbing allegations against a private school in Delhi.
Spot action against school
During a public dialogue programme on Tuesday, a case involving Queen Mary School, Model Town was raised by aggrieved parents. They alleged wrongful collection of fees and expulsion of students from the school.

Taking immediate cognisance of the matter, Gupta directed concerned officials to initiate an urgent investigation and take strict, necessary action.
“The Delhi government is fully committed to transparency, equal opportunity, and protection of children’s rights in the field of education. We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of injustice, exploitation, or irregularities—no laxity will be tolerated,” Gupta said.
“Our resolve is clear—every child should have access to justice, respect, and quality education,” she added.
While investigations are underway, parents and civil society groups are calling for accountability and long-term reforms to safeguard students from arbitrary actions by educational institutions.
'Arbitrary and illegal' fee hike
Over the past few weeks, parents of students at DPS Dwarka have come forward with serious accusations, claiming their children were publicly shamed and isolated after their families refused to pay what they described as an “arbitrary and illegal” fee hike.
According to the parents, children who hadn’t paid the increased fees were removed from their regular classrooms and kept in the school library. There, they were not allowed to speak with classmates and were closely monitored, even for basic needs like using the washroom or getting a drink of water.
“They were escorted by housekeeping staff, like criminals,” said one distressed parent. “My child came home crying and now dreads going to school. We haven’t been able to sleep properly for days.”
Parents alleged that repeated attempts to contact the school’s principal and administration went unanswered.
On Sunday, a group of parents calling themselves DPS Dwarka Aggrieved Parents held a press conference, detailing what they called "systemic mental harassment" and demanding urgent intervention. Their demands include:
Parents have emphasised that their fight is not just against one school, but for broader accountability and protection of children’s rights in all educational institutions.
The school has yet to issue an official response to the allegations