Will point system for nursery admission survive, asks HC

Delhi High Court today asked the AAP government whether the appeals against its single judge verdict quashing the point system for nursery admission would survive in view of the recent circulars relating to the admission criteria issued by the administration.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jaynat Nath asked the Delhi government to place before it the two circulars issued recently to see whether the petitions are "infructuous" or not.
"You (Delhi government) produce notifications of December 31, 2015, and January 6, 2016," the court said, adding that it will then decide whether the appeals survive or not.

Under the earlier system, out of a total 100 points, 70 were given to a child living in the neighbourhood of the school. Additional 20 were given if a sibling was studying there, five points more if either parent was an alumni and another five points if it was an inter-state transfer case.
Advocate Gautam Narayan, appearing for Delhi government, submitted that the petitions would survive and have not become infructuous.
He said the government has challenged the single judge's finding which has to be set aside and added that Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill (DSEAA) cleared by Delhi assembly recently was also pending approval from the Centre.

The court asked the government counsel to produce the DSEAA Bill along with the notifications before February 4.

Directorate of Education (DoE) in its December 31, 2015, circular has asked the schools to develop and adopt clear, well defined, equitable, non-discriminatory, unambiguous and transparent criteria for nursery admissions.
On January 6, the AAP government scrapped management quota from private schools. "There will be 25 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections, rest 75 per cent will be made available to the general public," the notification had said.
Earlier in December 2014, during hearing of appeal against its single judge order, the court had refused to grant interim stay on its single judge verdict quashing the point system for nursery admission brought in by Lieutenant Governor for private unaided schools here.

It had dismissed the application for interim stay moved by the education department of Delhi government and said that it will hear the main appeal on merit.