💰 Capitation Fee / Donation Demand
Any fee, donation, or payment demanded beyond the notified fee during admission is strictly prohibited.
What This Violation Looks Like
Why It Happens
Schools — particularly private unaided schools — use capitation fees to supplement revenue beyond what the State government permits them to charge. The lack of transparent fee disclosure and low awareness among parents makes this violation easy to perpetrate and conceal.
Legal Definition & Penalty
Section 13 of the RTE Act prohibits any school or person from collecting any capitation fee. "Capitation fee" means any kind of donation or contribution or payment other than the fee notified by the school. This includes direct cash demands, demands for "development fund", "building fund", "security deposit", or any other disguised fee.
Penalty — Section 13(2)
10× the capitation fee collected
Additional consequence: School may face de-recognition proceedings under Section 18 if pattern of violation is established.
Evidence to Collect
Before filing your complaint, collect:
How to Report This Violation
Document the demand
Collect all receipts, bank transfer records, WhatsApp messages, or written notes of the fee demand. If no receipt was given, write down the exact amount, date, and name of person who demanded it.
File complaint with DEO
Write a formal complaint to the District Education Officer (DEO) of your district. Include school name, class, child's name, date of demand, and amount. Attach all evidence.
Escalate to SCPCR
If the DEO does not act within 30 days, file the same complaint with the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR). You can file online at most SCPCRs.
File with NCPCR
For unresolved cases, escalate to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) at ncpcr.gov.in. NCPCR can issue notices directly to the school principal and management.
Who to Complain To
Complaint Template
To, The District Education Officer, [District Name], [State Name] Sir/Madam,I write to bring to your urgent attention a violation of Section 13 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 committed by [School Name], located at [School Address], [District]. On [Date], the school demanded a sum of ₹[Amount] from me as a condition for the admission of my child [Child Name] to Class [Class]. This payment was described as "[Term used by school: donation / development fee / building fund / etc.]". This constitutes an illegal capitation fee under Section 13(1) of the RTE Act. I have attached [receipts / bank transfer records / written communication] as evidence of this demand. Under Section 13(2), the school is liable to a fine of 10 times the capitation fee charged. I request that: 1. An immediate inquiry be conducted into this matter. 2. The illegal fee be refunded to me. 3. Appropriate penalty proceedings be initiated against the school management. I am willing to provide any additional information required.Yours faithfully, [Your Full Name] [Your Address] [Your Mobile Number] [Date]
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