The Madras High Court has upheld a recent directive requiring private schools in Tamil Nadu to publicly display their fee structures . On June 5, 2026, Justice M . Dhandapani dismissed a request for an interim stay against the circular issued by the Director of Private Schools on June 1,2026.
The circular mandates that all private educational institutions in the state must post their fee structures on notice boards and websites. The court's decision came in response to a writ petition filed by All India Private Educational Institutions Association, represented by general secretary K. Palaniappan from Chennai . The association sought to challenge both the circular and a prior order from the Tamil Nadu Information Commission (TNIC) issued on May 25,2026, which served as basis for the circular.
The origins of this legal dispute trace back to an application filed in 2022 by M . Liyakath Ali under the Right to Information Act of 2005. Ali sought details regarding the fee structures of private schools, directing his request to the Public Information Officer associated with the Coimbatore Chief Educational Officer . request was subsequently forwarded to the District Education Officer,who then passed it along to individual schools in the district.
Frustrated by the lack of response, Ali escalated the issue to the TNIC, which issued broad directives regarding dissemination of fee information on May 25, 2026. It was these directives that prompted the Director of Private Schools to issue the circular mandating fee transparency.
The petitioner association contends that TNIC's order and the subsequent circular were issued without proper consideration of whether the Right to Information Act applies to private unaided educational institutions. They argue that these institutions may not fit the definition of a 'public authority' as outlined in Act.
During the court proceedings,the association's counsel emphasized the need to examine whether the TNIC had overstepped its jurisdiction by issuing directives that effectively create regulatory framework for private schools across Tamil Nadu. judge,after hearing preliminary arguments, opted to defer the case for a final hearing in two weeks, indicating that further examination of issues raised is necessary.
This ruling reflects ongoing tensions between educational institutions and regulatory bodies regarding transparency and accountability in the private education sector. As the case progresses,it may set a precedent for how fee structures are disclosed in private schools throughout the state .
