Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a Bill to regulate private school fees across the state, aiming to curb arbitrary hikes and provide relief to parents.

The Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Amendment Act, 2026, was adopted during the recent Assembly session to strengthen oversight of fee structures in private institutions and ensure greater transparency.

Under the amended law, the state government will constitute a seven-member Fee Determination Committee headed by a retired High Court judge to assess and fix fees for private schools. The panel's decisions will be binding on institutions and will remain valid for three academic years, offering stability to families.

The committee will include representatives from the education department, school managements and a parent nominee from the Tamil Nadu State Parents-Teachers Association, ensuring that parental concerns are reflected in the process.

School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said the reform was prompted by persistent complaints over unreasonable fee hikes and stressed that charges must be fair and justified.

The amendment also extends the period for schools to file objections from 15 to 30 days and streamlines administrative procedures.

The government said the new framework seeks to balance affordability with educational quality, while parent groups have welcomed the move as a major relief.