Sisodia said the government had no intention of infringing on the autonomy of private schools.

There, however, were some concerns. The bill mandates a quorum of at least 20 parents or 1/5th of that of the total number of students in a class to be able to file a complaint. It also does not set a time frame within which the school will have to refund the amount or pay the fine.

The other bill was The Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill 2015. This is an amendment to the Delhi Education Act 1973 with the purpose of streamlining nursery admissions. It also prescribes punishment against schools that take donations and screen children.

If any school is found taking donation a fine ,which may extend to ten times the capitation fee or 5 lakh will be charged. For screening, the school will have to first pay 5 lakh for first contravention and 10 lakh for subsequent contravention.

“Our children deserve an education free from bribes and stressful interviews. Reforms will help the government to take action against private schools not following rules,” said Sisodia.

A new section 16 (A) has been inserted, which prohibits charging of capitation fee and screening.

Some concerns with section 16 (A): The section prohibits screening only up to the elementary level. So education activists are concerned about students from Class 9 and above being screened.

“Earlier Rule 145 of the Delhi School Education Rules 1973 was a safeguard and prohibited screening for all classes. Now this rule has been dropped and the new provision gives power to schools to screen students from Class 9,” said Ashok Agarwal, a Right to Education (RTE) lawyer.

The government also decided to do away with section 10 (1) in its bill that guaranteed pay parity to private school teachers.

It also added Section 24 that gives graded power to the directorate of education. The director of education will have the power to impose fine, suspend admission, take over management and withdraw recognition of a school.

The government has also amended Section 28, which made it mandatory for the state to take prior approval from the central government to make any changes.

Mr Sisodia stressed that the government was not against "privatisation" of education.

New Delhi:  The Aam Admi Party (AAP) government today tabled two bills proposing radical changes in the education system of the national capital, specially aimed at tightening the leash on private schools by doing away with donations and screening process for nursery admissions.

The Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill (DSEAA) and the Delhi School (Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill, which were introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, stipulate hefty fine and imprisonment for violators.

However, Mr Sisodia stressed that the government was not against "privatisation" of education. The discussion on the same is likely to take place next week.

"Congratulations Manish for presenting such huge systemic reforms in education. Proud of  you," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.

"In Delhi there are 1,800 private schools. We are not against privatisation of education but against  fleecing of people and turning of education into a business. Admission in these schools has turned into a nightmare."

"Financial irregularities have been found. Fees is being diverted for purposes other than education. Instead of fixing fees we are talking of verifying accounts. We are framing a law which will ensure yearly audit. The present law has provision for derecognition only," Mr Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister said in the Assembly.

The three BJP lawmakers walked out of the House saying that the tabling of the Bills amounted to violation of Transaction of Business Rules as it requires the approval of the Centre.

"The thing is the party they belong to does the same. PM flies out of country and they walk out of House. Their walkout explains their intention. We are going to construct 8,000 new classrooms and 20 new schools by the next session," he said.

A committee shall be constituted for the purpose of verification of the accounts of schools in accordance with the provisions of the proposed Delhi School (Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill.

It shall consist of a retired High Court judge or a retired District judge or a retired officer not below the rank of principal secretary.

As per the proposed amendment in the DSEAA, offenders can be levied penalty of different grades for taking interviews at the entry levels including nursery admission and charging capitation fees.

Under this amendment offenders will be liable for a fine which may extend up to Rs. 5 lakh for the first contravention and Rs. 10 lakh for each subsequent contravention.

Mr Sisodia said that the existing penal provisions, withdrawal of recognition and taking over of management, affects the students and hamper effective penal action.

"Since Delhi has its own legislature now, it is proposed to omit the requirement of seeking prior approval of the Central government for making any rule under Delhi School Education Rules, 1973," Mr Sisodia said.