HC asks Delhi govt to crack down on schools demanding money

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia submitted in a sealed cover a list of documents and evidence given by parents who alleged some private schools were asking for money to admit students.

The Delhi high court on Friday told the AAP government to take action against private schools that were “demanding money” from parents to admit kids under the management quota.

Parents buy admission forms for nursery for their children at a school in New Delhi. (Saumya Khandelwal/ HT photo)

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia submitted in a sealed cover a list of documents and evidence given by parents who alleged some private schools were asking for money to admit students.

“Why don’t you take action against those schools since you have evidence? What were you doing for the past six to three months when you had received these complaints?” Justice Manmohan said.

“If some schools have indulged in malpractice, take action against them. There is no stay order against you (Delhi government). What is the point of handling it (the list) to the court in a sealed cover?” the HC said.

Sisodia responded that it was a complex issue as there was fear among parents that their kids would be harassed if the government took action against the schools.

To this Justice Manmohan said, “They (parents) and you have to have the courage (to take on the schools)”.

The HC, which is hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the scrapping of 62 criteria, including management quota, in nursery admissions, reiterated its earlier comment that public schools would have to improve for people to have a fair alternative to private schools.

The education minister accused some private schools of making over 400% profits over their investment. “Loot ka adda bana diya hai (It has become den of corruption),” Sisodia said.

Senior advocate S Guru Krishnakumar, appearing for the Delhi government, said the AAP government had in a very short period of time improved the infrastructure of public school, including drinking water and toilet facilities.

During the hearing, Justice Manmohan said as per the procedure under law, the January 6 notification should have been issued by the Lieutenant Gover nor. As the hearing remained inconclusive, the HC posted the matter for Monday.

The January 6 notification has been challenged by the Action Committee Unaided Recognised Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education For All, which claim to represent various private unaided schools.

Terming the AAP government’s order as illegal, the committee said it was not trying to champion the cause of all the scrapped 62 criteria, barring a few like management quota.