Delhi fields central govt’s law officer, ED counsel for DoE

New Delhi: It was an unusual sight at Delhi High Court on Thursday when a legal team usually associated with Enforcement Directorate appeared for another directorate. Springing a surprise, Delhi govt fielded central govt's senior law officer and counsel for ED to defend Directorate of Education's law on regulating private school fees.Additional solicitor general SV Raju justified Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, and its subsequent rules. On Dec 24 , DoE issued a notification requiring every private school to have a fee regulation committee from the academic session 2025-26. While Raju agreed to the extended deadline for compliance, advocate Zoheb Hossain, another familiar face arguing for ED, accepted the court notice on behalf of DoE.Sources in Delhi govt said the decision was taken after more than 10 petitions were filed in quick succession against the law. Anticipating that a battery of senior lawyers would appear for the petitioners, it was deemed fit that DoE must also be represented by heavyweights, they added. The petitioners include Delhi Public School Society, Association of Public Schools and Action Committee for Unaided Recognised Private Schools. The action committee was represented by former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, who pressed for a stay of the rules.Raju and Hossain are a constant presence in cases where ED was a party, be it in special courts, HC or even Supreme Court, including cases involving former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia.