No Coercion No Captive Buying: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta orders private schools to stop forced sales
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered all private and aided schools to immediately stop coercing parents into buying books, uniforms or stationery from school-linked shops under the directive titled "No Coercion No Captive Buying." Surprise inspections announced by the government are being treated as enforcement action, not a gimmick, after a spike in parental complaints.
No Coercion No Captive Buying — what schools must display
Schools must publish a clear statement on their official website, notice boards and any internal stores that parents are free to buy materials from any supplier they choose. The government allows schools to suggest 5 to 6 nearby vendors for convenience, but these recommendations cannot be mandatory or tied to admission or attendance requirements.
Schools are forbidden from directing parents to designated or single-vendor shops that create a captive market. All private and assisted schools must ensure transparency and parental freedom of choice as part of compliance.
No Coercion No Captive Buying — enforcement, penalties and examples
Officials said inspections target both economic exploitation and safety lapses. Violations such as forcing purchases, not holding valid fire safety certificates, or running unlicensed facilities can attract heavy fines and immediate closure of illegal labs or swimming pools.
The government can also step in for serious or repeated wrongdoing, including a possible state takeover of school management. Authorities pointed to a recent inspection of Venkateshwar Global School, Rohini, which was flagged for lacking a valid fire safety certificate and an unlicensed pool.
What this means for parents and students now
If a school continues to demand purchases from a linked vendor, parents can report the practice to the education authority — complaints prompted the current round of inspections. Parents and students should look for the mandated notice on school websites and notice boards and keep receipts when they buy supplies elsewhere.
Schools must also ensure licensed approvals for facilities such as swimming pools and labs before they can operate. Non-compliance may lead to swift administrative action under the directive.
The Delhi government describes the inspections as a direct response to parental concerns and says enforcement will continue until the practice of captive buying ends across the city’s private and aided schools.