Some nursery admission criteria are untenable, says HC

The Delhi High Court on Monday said the some of the 62 criteria fixed by private schools for nursery admissions were "untenable" and asked them to restrict the criteria whose removal they want to challenge to only 10-13.

Justice Manmohan, hearing a bunch of pleas filed by private unaided schools challenging the January 6 circular that scrapped 62 criteria, including management quota, for nursery admissions, asked them to provide the list by Tuesday, the next date of hearing.

The court also asked the Aam Aadmi party government whether its order, scrapping 62 criteria, was applicable to minority institutions.

The petitioners, Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education, said the government circular was "absolutely without jurisdiction" and should be quashed as it completely took away the autonomy of schools.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on January 6 said the decision to scrap the management quota was taken to bring in more transparency in the admission process. He said the existing provision of 25 percent seats for students from poor families will however remain in place.

Schools were however free to grant admission to children of their employees and could allocate points in their criteria.

Currently, the schools keep 20 percent or even more seats under the management quota, while 25 percent seats are reserved for economically weaker sections students. The remaining are open for the general category children.