In a significant development aimed at safeguarding children from child labor by ensuring their right to education, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday demanded a status report from the Department of Education (DOE) concerning the admission of economically weaker sections (EWS), disadvantaged groups (DG), and general category students in government and private schools.
The directive was issued in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO Justice for All, represented by advocates Khagesh Jha and Shikha Sharma Bagga. The PIL highlights the challenges faced by nearly 100,000 children who were either unable to secure school admissions through the lottery system or were outright denied entry despite fulfilling the online application process.
Presiding justices, Manmohan and Tushar Rao Gedela, instructed the DOE to review and respond to the NGO’s concerns within two weeks, focusing particularly on a contentious circular issued by the Director of Education on November 11, 2024. The petition criticizes this circular for allegedly discriminating against students by establishing separate admission timelines for EWS and DG students compared to their counterparts in the general category.
The NGO urges the Delhi Government to adhere to the guidelines set on October 26, 2022, which advocate for non-discriminatory practices in school admissions, calling for a unified admission schedule as stipulated under Section 15 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and Clause 4(i) of a notification dated January 7, 2011, issued by the Lt. Governor of Delhi. The petition argues that the distinct timelines undermine inclusivity and violate the right to education guaranteed under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution.
