Punjab Assembly passes bill to curb arbitrary fee hike by private schools

Chandigarh, Aug 10 (IANS) Putting an end to arbitrary fee hikes by private schools, the Vidhan Sabha unanimously passed the Punjab Regulation of Fees of Un‑Aided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by voice vote, paving the way for stronger protection of students and parents against excessive and opaque fee collection.

Under the legislation, private schools will not be allowed to increase fees by more than five per cent in a new academic session. Every amount collected from parents under any head will be treated as a fee and brought under regulation.

The government will also conduct forensic audits of private schools to identify excess collections and ensure that the additional amount is refunded to parents. Violations will attract fines of Rs 50,000 for the first offence, Rs 1 lakh for the second and cancellation of affiliation for the third.

Taking aim at the previous Congress government, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that during Covid‑19, when schools were shut and vehicles were not operating, parents were still forced to pay transport fees. He asserted that such exploitation would no longer be allowed in Punjab. Mann said his government would neither allow education to become a business nor let education mafias flourish in the state.

The Vidhan Sabha also passed eight Bills of infrastructure, taxation, employment, rural development and environmental protection, strengthening the legislative and regulatory framework in the state.

The Punjab Common Infrastructure (Regulation and Maintenance) Amendment Bill, 2026, moved by Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, was passed with a majority. The Punjab Regulation of Fee of Un‑Aided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moved by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, was passed unanimously.

The House also passed three Bills about universities: the Cloud University, Hoshiarpur Bill, 2026; the MS Digital University, Patiala Bill, 2026; and the Physicswallah Digital University, Patiala Bill, 2026. These were moved by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and passed by majority.

The Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moved by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, was passed by majority. The Punjab State Outsourced Personnel (Transition to Contractual Engagement) Bill, 2026, also moved by Cheema, was passed unanimously.

The Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moved by Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, was passed by majority. The Punjab Protection of Trees Bill, 2026, moved by Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, was also passed by majority.

–IANS

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