New Delhi: The Delhi High Court yesterday said playschools in the capital, which have been allotted land at concessional rates, will have to admit 25 percent of students from the weaker sections of the society for free.
A division bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said that if any school is found flouting this rule, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will initiate the process of cancellation of the lease.
The court’s direction came on a plea filed on behalf of NGO Justice for All by advocate Khagesh Jha, seeking directions of admitting 25 percent of students from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in aided and unaided schools that have been granted land at concessional rates.
The bench slammed the government and the DDA for not devising any mechanism for ensuring compliance with the condition on the premise where land much below the market rate was allotted to schools.
The Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi government had refused to take responsibility for ensuring compliance by the schools.
It had said if the owner of the land was in breach of any of the terms and conditions, it was for the DDA to take action.
On the other hand, the DDA had informed the court that the government was the agency to check and monitor the activities of educational institutions. When the government has informed it of violation of admission norms for weaker sections, action for cancellation of allotment and determination of perpetual lease is taken, DDA said.
It was, however, said that no complaints were received from the government.
“The aforesaid demonstrates a very unfortunate and sorry state of affairs,” the court said on the conduct of the Delhi government and the DDA. IANS
