Court notice on plea against Kendriya Vidyalayas

The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the central government and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) on a petition seeking direction to the schools body on its failure to provide totally free education to Class 1-8 students under the RTE Act.

A division bench of Chief Justice D. Murugesan and Justice Jayant Nath sought a response from the human resource development ministry and KVS by May 15.

The court in its order asked the central government to "explain by way of an affidavit" the steps taken to comply with the Right to Education Act.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by NGO Social Jurists through advocate Ashok Agarwal. It alleged that Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) all over the country, including Delhi, have been charging fee under various heads from the students studying in Classes 1 to 8.

"A failure on the part of KVS, to provide totally free education to all students studying in Class 1 to Class 8 in all Kendriya Vidyalayas run by them as required in terms of Articles 21 and 21-A of the Constitution of India read with Section 3 of the RTE Act," the petition said.

However, the KVS counsel submitted that after the enforcement of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, no tuition fee had been collected from the students. However, a minimal amount was charged for computer classes and other things.

The plea further added: "Violation of fundamental and human rights to education of lakhs of children studying in different KVs run by the KVS as guaranteed to them under Articles 21 and 21A of the Constitution of India read with the provisions of RTE Act and also read with UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)."