In a significant order advancing the cause of inclusive education, the Delhi High Court has directed GD Goenka Public School to re-admit a six-year-old girl child diagnosed with autism, underlining that inclusive education is not just about access but about fostering a sense of belonging.
Justice Vikas Mahajan, while pronouncing the order, stated: “It needs no emphasis that ‘inclusive education’ is not merely about access to education. It is about belongingness… about recognising that every child has a place in the classroom not because they are the same, but because they are different, and that difference enriches the learning environment for all.”
The court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Ashok Agarwal on behalf of the child’s parents. According to the petition, the girl was born in May 2017 and suspected of having autism in 2019, with a formal diagnosis of mild autism confirmed in December 2021. She was admitted to GD Goenka in the 2021–22 academic session under the “sibling clause,” and her speech delay was disclosed in the admission forms.
However, after the school resumed offline classes post-Covid in April 2022, the parents requested the support of a shadow teacher or special educator. Facing alleged lack of support and increasing pressure from the school, the girl’s education was discontinued from January 2023, the petition said.
Justice Mahajan noted that the “ends of justice” would be met by allowing the child to resume her education in an inclusive setup. The court directed the school to re-admit her to Class I, or an age-appropriate class, within two weeks as a fee-paying student. It also permitted the presence of a parent-appointed shadow teacher, subject to the school’s decorum and safety rules.
Additionally, the court instructed the Directorate of Education to monitor the reintegration of the child and ensure the school complies with its legal obligation to provide a non-discriminatory and inclusive environment, in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws.
