SC puts on hold nursery admissions in Delhi

The nursery admissions in the national capital will have to wait for some more time as Supreme Court Friday put on hold Delhi High Court's nod to the schools to go ahead with the admission process except interstate transfer admission cases.

A bench of Justice H.L.Dattu and Justice S.A.Bobde stayed the nursery admissions on the plea of the parents who are aggrieved by the high court's order excluding interstate transfer cases from the admission process that was set rolling by the interim order on April 3..

The court issued notice to the Delhi government and other respondents. Following the resignation of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government in February, Delhi is under President's rule and Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung is the administrator.

Senior counsel Nidhesh Gupta, who appeared for the aggrieved parents, said the parents of the children coming under the interstate transfer category were aggrieved at their being excluded in the interim order permitting nursery admission.

Gupta argued that by implication all the admissions that have already taken place would be subject to the outcome of the hearing before the apex court.

It was contended that by the time, the fate of interstate transfer category cases was decided all the nursery admissions would be over.

The Delhi High Court April 3 had green flagged the nursery admissions as it directed the Delhi government to process the nursery admissions on the basis of Feb 27 notification issued by the lt. governor.

The bench of acting Chief Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Sidharth Mridul had said that the admission process will not include the inter-state transfer category students as their case would be further heard on April 16.

"All those appellant (except interstate transfer category parents) who have been selected in draw of lots till date in more than one school shall by April 9 choose one school. Thereby vacating the seats from other schools," it had said.

The high court had said that it will adjudicate on whether the remaining vacant seats could be allotted to interstate transfer category, waitlist candidates or unselected children on the next date of hearing.

At present, 95 point system is being followed for admissions - 70 points are allocated to neighbourhood criteria, 20 to sibling and five under alumni category.