Court orders schools to admit physically challenged and poor, whom they had denied admission

Children who were denied admission by various Delhi government schools can now hope to see classrooms, as Delhi high court (HC) ordered all the schools to admit nearly 850 students who were denied admissions for being physically challenged or belonging to economically weaker section.

Relying on the Right To Education (RTE) Act meant to ensure compulsory education, the court allowed the petition of NGO Social Jurist and ordered the state government-run schools to admit these children immediately.

The court pointed out how the schools were also flouting an HC order of 2008 that made it clear that children who were disabled could not be turned away.

The court further advised the schools to make sure that children who were living nearby received preference for admission. On the question of age-wise allotment of classes, the court left the matter to be decided by the head of the schools in consultation with the education officers concerned.

Denying admissions on any pretext, especially to disabled children, was illegal, unconstitutional and contrary to the laws, the counsel had argued, a reasoning that found resonance with HC. The petitioner also alleged that the schools were not able to give any cogent reason why the children were not being taken on rolls and had turned a blind eye to RTE or court orders.

Picture: Mondo Challange