Harjot Bains assures strict action over alleged excess fee collection at School of Eminence, Nawanshahr
By Parmod Bharti
Nawanshahr (Punjab), July 15, 2026: Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Wednesday assured strict action over allegations of excess fee collection at the School of Eminence (SoE), Nawanshahr, after the issue was raised during his visit to Raja Sahib Da Mazara near Banga.
The matter was brought to the minister’s attention by AAP District In-charge (Nasha Mukti Morcha) Dinesh Suri, Banga MLA Dr S.K. Sukhi, and members of the media. During the interaction, Bains reportedly said the school principal should face suspension over the issue. However, Dr Sukhi reminded the minister that he had already raised the matter in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, but no action had been taken so far.
The controversy revolves around allegations that SoE Principal Sarbjit Singh collected fees beyond the amount prescribed by the Punjab Government. According to reports, the principal admitted that the additional charges were levied with the approval of the School Management Committee (SMC) to address staff shortages and support extra academic activities.
The issue has triggered political reactions, with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Halqa In-charge Sukhdeep Singh Sukar and Jamhuri Adhikar Sabha activist Jasbir Deep accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of contradicting its claims of providing free, world-class education through its flagship ‘Sikhiya Kranti’ initiative.
The two leaders questioned why the Punjab Government’s recently promulgated ordinance regulating fee hikes in unaided private schools had not been enforced in government-run Schools of Eminence. They alleged that while private schools are being directed to refund excess fees and submit financial records, no similar action has been initiated against officials in government schools facing comparable allegations.
They also questioned the legal authority of the School Management Committee to alter the fee structure approved by the Education Department. According to them, parents were allegedly asked to pay additional charges citing staff shortages and expenses related to academic programmes such as the National Science Seminar and the International Mathematics Olympiad.
The opposition leaders demanded that the Punjab Government first ensure a refund of the allegedly excess fees collected from parents in Schools of Eminence and fix accountability before taking action against private educational institutions.
With the Education Minister now promising strict action, attention has turned to whether the government will act against its own officials with the same resolve it has pledged while regulating private school fees.