Delhi High Court Directs Government to Ensure PTAs in All Private Schools
The Delhi High Court has issued a clear directive to the Delhi government. The court wants the government to act swiftly. It must ensure that parent-teacher associations are formed and function properly in all private schools.
Court Issues Notice and Seeks Response
A bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia heard a public interest litigation. The PIL was filed by the NGO Justice for All. The court issued a formal notice to the Delhi government. It asked the government to file a detailed response within four weeks.
The bench specifically instructed the government. It must state the steps taken by the Directorate of Education. These steps should ensure every school has a duly-constituted parent-teacher association in place.
The court also ordered immediate action. It directed authorities to start working on the formation and functioning of these associations in all schools without delay.
Petitioner Highlights Systemic Failure
The petitioner, Justice for All, presented a strong case. They argued there is a widespread and systemic failure. Many recognized unaided private schools in Delhi are not following the law.
These schools are failing to constitute parent-teacher associations as required. The requirements come from the Delhi School Education Act and related rules and guidelines.
The NGO emphasized the importance of PTAs. They described these associations as statutory bodies. Their purpose is to foster cooperation between parents and teachers. They also act as a crucial component of school governance and accountability.
Legal Significance and Parental Rights
The significance of parent-teacher associations has grown recently. The enactment of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, gave PTAs new powers.
This law confers statutory power upon PTAs. They can now file appeals against arbitrary and illegal fee hikes by school management. This acts as a bulwark against the commercialisation of education.
Despite this clear legal mandate, many private schools are flouting the law. The petition states a vast majority of schools are not complying.
Some schools have not constituted a PTA at all. Others have created sham PTAs with hand-picked members. This renders the body toothless and defeats its very purpose.
This situation leaves parents without a legitimate forum. They cannot voice their concerns effectively. They are also deprived of their statutory right to challenge exorbitant fee increases.
Prayers for Strict Compliance and Monitoring
The petitioner has made specific requests to the court. They pray for directions to authorities. These directions should ensure strict and time-bound compliance with the provisions of the Delhi School Education Act regarding PTAs.
They also seek directions for creating a robust, independent monitoring mechanism. This mechanism could include:
- Appointment of observers
- Provision for videography
- Oversight of free-and-fair PTA elections in all schools
All these measures should be implemented within a specific timeframe. The goal is to restore parental rights and ensure proper school governance in Delhi's private education sector.
