HC seeks MCD reply on merging 19 schools into one

The Delhi High Court today asked the north municipal corporation to explain why it was merging 19 of its schools, where girls and boys were taught separately during different times of the day, into one co-ed institution.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued notice to Delhi government's education department and North MCD directing them to file their response before next date of hearing on February 11.
The court, however, refrained from staying the operation of the December 31, 2015 order for merger of the schools.
"What is the reason behind this order, explain it within two weeks," the court asked, adding that "it is not possible to stay the operation".

The court was hearing a plea filed by a trust, which has sought quashing of the December 31 office order of the north MCD.
The order had also said that after the merger, services of the surplus staff shall be utilised in the same zone against vacant posts and if vacancy does not exist, the remaining may be sent to its headquarters for further posting.
The petitioner, however, stated that the order is illegal and arbitrary.
"The action of the respondents to merge 19 schools into municipal corporation primary school on the grounds of low number of students enrolled in the schools... Will affect the legal right of the students/children of the poor families provided under Article 21 and 21A of the Constitution," the plea said.