Three Students Denied Admit Cards Over Fee Dispute Just One Day Before CBSE Board Exams at Saket School
A major controversy has emerged in Delhi after three students were allegedly denied admit cards just one day before the CBSE Board Exams 2026 due to an ongoing school fee dispute in Delhi. The incident, reported at an Apeejay School in Saket, has created anxiety among parents and students, raising serious questions about the legality and ethics of withholding examination documents over financial disagreements.
Parents said that the school did not issue admit cards because of the money they owed it in the form of outstanding dues, which was several lakhs. Nevertheless, families allege that they had already paid the fee that was accepted by the Directorate of Education (DoE) and were challenging the increased price imposed by the institution.
The problem has elicited a lot of worry over the issue of student rights and adherence to the Delhi education law, with the board examinations being one of the most important academic achievements.
Parents Allege Fee Hike Dispute and Non-Acceptance of Approved Payments
The parents of the affected students indicated that the conflict stretches several academic years back, and the school, allegedly, raised fees that were not sanctioned by the Directorate of Education.
One parent claimed repeated attempts were made to submit cheques for the approved fee amount, but the school refused to accept them and insisted on payment of the higher disputed school fee. In one case, a cheque routed through government authorities was reportedly held for months before being returned, with the school again demanding the increased amount.
Families also claimed that as long as the school refused to take tuition fee payments, in dispute, it still managed to take payments in the form of uniforms, stationery, and exam fee payments.
This scenario has fuelled the school fee row in Delhi with the existing conflict between schools in the private sector and parents regarding fee control.
School Responds, Cites Outstanding Dues and Past Court Directions
The school administration issued a statement asserting that it is a law-abiding institution and that the issue relates to unpaid fees accumulated over multiple years. According to the school, dues of more than ₹21 lakh were pending across four students, while the remaining parents of Class 10 and 12 students had cleared their payments.
The school also referenced a similar dispute in 2024, where court intervention reportedly directed parents to clear dues before admit cards were issued. Officials stated that policies were applied uniformly and that humanitarian consideration had already been extended in at least one case.
Students Report Being Made to Wait Outside Campus
Parents alleged that students were asked to come to school to collect admit cards, but were later denied entry to the premises. Some families claimed they waited for hours outside the school gates without receiving any response from staff.
For students scheduled to appear in exams the next day, the situation created severe emotional stress and uncertainty, further intensifying the CBSE admit card issue.
Political Reactions and Legal Questions Over Admit Card Denial
The matter has also drawn political attention, with leaders accusing private schools of pressuring parents through last-minute actions. At the same time, opposing voices argued that the dispute relates to earlier fee policies and ongoing litigation rather than current governance.
Under existing regulations and emerging Delhi education law reforms, there is increasing emphasis on ensuring that students are not prevented from appearing in board examinations due to fee disputes. Education experts note that denying admission cards could violate student rights if approved fees have already been paid.
Directorate of Education Timeline Adds Complexity
Documents referenced by parents indicate that school fee hike proposals were rejected multiple times in earlier years, with limited increases approved only for specific academic sessions. Some years remain under legal review due to pending court cases, making the financial dispute more complex.
Parent representatives argue that when a matter is sub judice and approved fees are already paid, students should not suffer academic consequences.
Immediate Concern Remains Students’ Right to Appear in Exams
With the CBSE Board Exams 2026 commencing, the question of whether or not the affected students can appear is still on the cards of whether to allow them to do so at an immediate time. The event has again raised the issue of explicit regulation enforcement, open fee frameworks, and the guarding of student academic rights in the event of a conflict between teachers and parents.
In the controversy, another bigger national debate on policy concerning the hike in school fees, regulation and how far the institution can go concerning balancing between the institution and the student welfare is highlighted.