Delhi's private schools move SC over nursery admissions

Private schools in Delhi Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the guidelines issued by Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung denying them 20 percent management quota and other criteria for admission to nursery schools.

The Lt. Governor had issued the guidelines in December. The guidelines provided for various steps including abolition of the 20 management quota for the grant of admission and weightage for neighbourhood children.

The unaided private schools challenged the Jan 20, 2014, Delhi High Court order directing the Delhi government to notify the guidelines issued by the Lt. Governor and also the date of admission.

The plea by the unaided private schools was moved by the Action Committee of Unaided Recognized Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education for All.

The action committee challenged the dismissal of its plea challenging the notification of the Lt. Governor.

The Delhi High Court by its Jan 20 order had refused to stay the notification on the criteria for nursery admissions in the city, holding that any "interference at this stage would create confusion".

The court, in its order, said that the stay of the notification would be "detrimental to the interest of children as well as parents" seeking admission.

"We are of the view that appellants (schools) have not been able to satisfy us of any irreparable loss and injury to them from the non-grant of the interim order sought," the court said.

"We are in agreement with the single judge that any interference at this stage would create confusion and would be detrimental to the interest of children as well as parents of the wards who are seeking admission."

The nursery admission process, which was to start Jan 15, was put on hold after the government told the high court bench it would wait for the court's decision on the issue before commencing the admission process.