The Maharashtra Government is planning to enact a law to regulate fee hikes by schools in the State, the Legislative Council was informed.

A Bill in this regard will be introduced in the ongoing budget session of the Legislature. Provision for a penalty of Rs 5 lakh and/or imprisonment up to three years has been made in the proposed Bill for flouting norms.

The Minister of State for School Education, Ms Fauzia Khan, said a school or an educational institution would have to seek an approval of the Parent Teachers' Association (PTA) for a fee hike. If the hike is not agreed to by the PTA, the issue would be moved before a divisional committee which would be headed by a retired district judge.