Chaotic scenes were witnessed outside Delhi Public School (DPS) Dwarka on Tuesday morning after several students were denied entry into the premises — once again, over non-payment of fees — and angry parents protested at the gates.
These students were among 29 expelled by the school, which cited legal provisions, with “immediate effect” on May 9. Parents, however, accused the school of allegedly “mishandling children” and flouting a Delhi High Court order issued last month.
They also claimed bouncers were stationed at the gate. Parents also alleged that several students were reportedly sent back home in school buses without prior intimation.
A parent of a Class XI student described the scene as traumatic. “… We were shocked when the school forcefully boarded our children into buses and sent them back home without any communication. We didn’t know their whereabouts for a while. There was no sensitivity shown at all,” the parent claimed.
In recent weeks, hundreds of parents took to Delhi’s streets to protest against fee hikes at several private schools.
At DPS Dwarka, the fee hike issue has been raging for several years. In April, an eight-member inspection committee led by District Magistrate (Southwest) Lakshay Singhal had flagged discriminatory practices against students at the schools: they were barred from attending regular classes and confined to the library, had restricted access to the canteen, were isolated from peers, and closely monitored by guards during restroom visits.
The Delhi Cabinet then approved a draft Bill — the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation & Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that it will apply to all private schools in the city and ensure “transparent, strict and clear provisions regarding school fee determination”.
What prompted the latest issue
In emails sent to affected families last Friday, the school cited Rule 35 of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973, to justify the expulsions, stating that the students’ names were being struck off the rolls due to “non-payment of school fee” despite “various reminders through monthly SMS, emails, telephonic calls and final reminder/show cause notice”.
Rule 35 states that schools can expel students on the grounds of non-payment of fees and other dues for 20 days after the last day for payment, or continued absence without leave for six consecutive days. It is also compulsory to issue a showcause notice to the guardian or parent before such an action.
The school’s email also said, “You are advised not to send your ward to the school. He/she shall not be permitted to enter the school premises. The RFID card of your ward has also been disabled and, if you send your ward to school despite his/her name being struck off from the school rolls, it shall be at your risk and consequence.”
It asked the parents to collect the transfer certificate of their wards from the administration department on Tuesday, between 2.30 and 3 pm.