Schools deny boy admission, father moves HC

A human rights activist has approached the Bombay high court seeking directions to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to frame guidelines for admission of students into private schools.

A human rights activist has approached the Bombay high court seeking directions to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to frame guidelines for admission of students into private schools.

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Wadala resident Shakil Ahmed approached the court after failing to secure admission for his six-year-old son in any of the four English medium schools in the vicinity of his residence.

A division bench of justice DY Chandrachud and justice RD Dhanuka has posted the petition for further hearing on Monday.

Ahmed has contended that private schools are adopting arbitrary and illegal procedures to admit students. According to the petition, Ahmed approached St Joseph High School, Wadala, seeking admission for his son, Kabir. Ahmed filled up an admission form, attached the

requisite documents and submitted it to the school authorities, but his son was not granted admission.

He then approached three other schools in the area, which also turned him down.

The petition says that Kabir's right to education, guaranteed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, as well as the right of his parents to get their son admitted to a neighbourhood school in a medium of their choice has been violated.

Ahmed alleged that none of the four schools disclosed reasons for which his son was not eligible for admission. Therefore, apart from seeking direction from the BMC to secure his son's admission, he has sought direction to frame guidelines for selecting children for admission into schools.