HC stays fresh draw of lots for nursery admission

City government is asked to furnish all requisite data and details on issue relating to unaided recognised private schools

The Delhi High Court today stayed the fresh draw of lots being conducted for admission in nursery classes and asked the city government to furnish all requisite data and details on the issue relating to unaided recognised private schools here.

"In the meantime, the fresh draw of lots to be conducted in pursuance of the (single judge bench) order dated March 6 shall not take place.

"We also make it clear no admission shall take place till next date of hearing," a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul said while fixing the appeal for hearing on March 24.

The court was hearing an appeal filed by some parents against the March 6 order of the single judge bench by which Delhi government was asked to conduct a fresh draw of lots among similarly placed kids who had secured 70 points on the basis of neighbourhood criteria.

The fresh plea has been filed by guardians of 14 children alleging they were already declared selected for nursery admission after the draw of lots and will have to undergo the same process again in pursuance of the single judge bench order on the issue.

The present dispute started after the Lieutenant Governor (LG) had on February 27 issued an order abolishing 5 points, out of 100, being awarded to inter-state transfer cases.

Maximum 70 points are being awarded to kids who live within eight kilometres of a school.

The LG's order further said, "If a school has conducted draw of lots for those applicants securing 70 points, that draw shall remain valid for the selected/confirmed candidates only.

"Fresh draw of lots shall be held for remaining applicants having 70 points, including wait-listed applicants and those applicants who were earlier securing 75 points because of 'inter-state transfer case' category," he said.