Dwarka School Strikes 26 Students Off Rolls Over Unpaid Fees; Parents Ready to Fight Back in Court
As Delhi gears up for a new academic session, a simmering dispute over school fees has boiled over in Dwarka. A prominent private school in the locality has removed 26 students from its rolls for non-payment of dues, a move that has sparked outrage among parents who are now gearing up for legal recourse. The school has reportedly issued formal notices to the families affected, citing its authority under existing education regulations.
This incident follows a similar action last week at Salwan School in Mayur Vihar, where 40 students were struck off the register for the same reason. The recurring nature of these disputes is adding to the growing tension between private institutions and parents across the city.
School Cites Delhi Education Act in Its Defense
According to the official communication sent by the school, the outstanding fees pertain to the academic year 2025-26. The administration claims that parents were reminded multiple times to clear the dues, but the payments were not made. In its notice, the school has invoked Rule 35 of the Delhi Education Act, 1973, which it says empowers institutions to remove a student’s name from the register if fees remain unpaid within the stipulated timeframe.
The letter further instructs parents to complete the necessary formalities with the school’s administrative and accounts departments by April 7. One parent, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that around 26 families have received such notices and that the affected children’s names have been removed from the school’s records.
Parents Claim Payments Already Made
In response to the school’s action, parents have pushed back, asserting that they have already cleared the outstanding amounts. They argue that the school’s decision is unjust and taken without proper verification. The administration, however, maintains that it had issued a show-cause notice on March 25, 2026, and found the responses submitted by the parents to be unsatisfactory.
This clash of narratives has left many families in a state of uncertainty, particularly with the new academic term just around the corner. Parents are now exploring all available options, including approaching the court to challenge the school’s decision and seek immediate reinstatement of the students.
Protests Outside Education Directorate
The issue has also drawn collective action. On Monday morning, a group of parents from various schools staged a peaceful protest outside the Directorate of Education. Holding placards with slogans against arbitrary fee-related actions, they demanded intervention from the authorities. A delegation later met with the Education Director to explain their grievances.
According to the parents, the Director assured them that the matter would be taken up with the schools concerned. While this provides a glimmer of hope, many remain skeptical and are waiting to see whether any concrete steps follow. The assurance, they say, needs to translate into action soon to prevent further disruption to their children’s education.
The situation highlights a broader issue in the capital, where fee disputes between private schools and parents have become increasingly common. With both sides digging in, the coming weeks could see more such cases surface, prompting calls for clearer guidelines and stricter oversight of how schools handle fee collection.
