Delhi HC directs parents to fill nursery admission forms

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed parents to fill up the application forms for nursery admission based on the criteria set by the schools as well as the state government.

Justice Manmohan, issuing notice to the Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi government, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Lieutenant Governor, directed parents to fill up the forms in the prescribed format and as per the criteria mentioned therein to avoid any ambiguity.

The court was hearing the pleas of two school bodies and some parents who challenged the DoE's recent circulars that laid down the guidelines for nursery admission for the 2017-18 session. The notifications have made "distance" the primary criteria for tiny tots' admissions.

However, the court said that since the scrutiny of forms for admissions is scheduled to take place after January 31, the final decision on the pleas will be taken before that date.

The court fixed the matter for January 19 for further hearing.

The Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education has challenged the DDA's condition for allotting land to some private unaided schools that requires them to reserve 75 per cent seats for students in the neighbourhood.

The circular has enforced the land allotment clause and thereby restricted admissions to schools on DDA land to their locality.

Justice Manmohan directed that the forms being issued by the private schools will also include the "distance from the school" clause.

The matter came up for hearing before Justice Manmohan after Justice V.K. Rao recused himself from hearing it earlier in the day on the ground that he has a schoolgoing son.

--IANS

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