Mgmt quota inherently prone to misuse: govt to HC

Delhi government today told the High Court that management quota for nursery admission in private schools was "inherently prone to misuse", which led it to step in and scrap it.
The submission was made in response to a query by a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath as to how private unaided schools can be restrained from exercising management quota when they are entitled to it under a 2007 order of Lt Governor.
"When there is something inherently prone to misuse, state as regulator can say don't do it. Management quota is a criterion which is prone to misuse," the Delhi government said on the issue.

The private unaided schools on the other hand contended that the Delhi government's January 6 order scrapping various criteria and the management quota was not issued by the LG or under any statute and "ran foul" of the LG's 2007 order.
After hearing arguments of both sides, the bench reserved its verdict on the government's plea challenging a single judge order of the high court staying the scrapping of the management quota and certain other criteria for nursery admissions in private unaided schools.
While reserving its verdict, the court observed that due to shortage of good schools in Delhi, people were being forced to go to Noida where it was easier to get admission.

During the hearing, the court said the government would have to show that private unaided schools were indulging in commercialisation and profiteering by way of the management quota and asked "where is the basis for such allegation?"

The government said it has received complaints from lot of parents that some schools have demanded capitation fees and added that these were placed before the single-judge who in turn asked the government to take action.
It said it has issued show cause notices to some schools which had indulged in such activity.
The government also contended that the 2007 order was not etched in stone so as to make it insurmountable for all times to come.

The government has contended that its January 6 order
"was validly and lawfully" issued and it superseded the 2007 order. It also claimed that the decision was taken "without any view to interfering in autonomy of private unaided schools".
It said the "objective was not to deprive private unaided schools of autonomy, but to ensure that admission to entry level classes are made in a fair, reasonable, rational, transparent and non-exploitative manner."
The Directorate of Education (DoE) of the government in its plea has said it was "fully empowered and competent in terms of Delhi Schools Education Act and Rules framed thereunder to issue" the January 6 order.

These contentions and claims were opposed by the private schools during the hearing.
The single-judge in his February 4 interim order was of the prima facie view that Delhi government's January 6 order, scrapping a total of 62 criteria and management quota, was "issued without any authority" and in "direct conflict" with the LG's 2007 order on nursery admissions in private schools.
On the issue of management quota, the court had said the high court-appointed Ganguly committee and the government had done a balancing act by agreeing that the 100 per cent discretion enjoyed by private schools in admissions was minimised, but not abolished.

The government, in its appeal, has said the issue of management quota "needs to be approached differently than as recommended by the Ganguly committee" in view of the "change in time and subsequent experiences".
The single judge had also observed that "promoters of a school who make investment at their own personal risk are entitled to full autonomy in administration including the right to admit students."
The order had come on the pleas filed by Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education For All, seeking quashing of the DoE's January 6 order.