Delhi HC hauls up city schools for delay

The Delhi high court on Thursday questioned the delay on the part of schools in forming a management committee to make the education system more effective as well as encourage participation of parents in decision making. Harish V Nair reports.

The Delhi high court on Thursday questioned the delay on the part of schools in forming a management committee to make the education system more effective as well as encourage participation of parents in decision making.

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A bench comprising Chief Justice D Murugesan and justice VK Jain directed the Delhi education department to respond to a public interest litigation, which had raised a grievance that most schools in the Capital have not formed such committees with at least six members as parents despite the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, prescribing it.

"Where is the penalty if no committee is formed? In this respect, the RTE Act lacks teeth. But the grievance of the petitioner appears to be justified. The government is directed to consider the PIL as a representation," the bench said.

"A circular regarding formation of such committees was issued by the education department on March 22, 2011, but many schools have not followed it violating the RTE Act," PIL petitioner and lawyer Ritu Sharma argued in court.