In a stern rebuke, the Delhi High Court lambasted Delhi Public School Dwarka on Wednesday for its deplorable treatment of students amidst a fee dispute. Justice Sachin Datta criticized the school for confining students to a library and restricting their classroom access, likening the institution to a “money-making machine” and suggesting it “deserved to be shut down.”
During the hearing, which saw students and their parents in attendance, the court examined a damning inspection report by an eight-member committee led by the district magistrate of southwest Delhi. The report highlighted numerous instances of discrimination, such as barring students from regular classes, limiting access to the canteen, and subjecting them to stringent monitoring during restroom breaks.
Justice Datta expressed dismay over the school’s actions, stating, “Assuming the fee is not paid, you are entitled to take action but surely not in this manner. What is this going on? Inability to pay fees does not give the school the licence to treat students with such indignity.”
The court’s intervention came after the school challenged a notice from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in July 2024, which had directed the deputy commissioner of police to register an FIR under the Juvenile Justice Act against the school for various offenses, including the expulsion of students over fee payment and neglect during a sensitive health situation.
The Delhi High Court’s preliminary directive ordered the school to cease confining students to the library and to reintegrate them into regular classes without discrimination. The court further recommended criminal prosecution against the school’s principal for the indignities suffered by the students.
Amid these proceedings, the Directorate of Education (DoE), represented by its counsel, disclosed ongoing actions against the school, including a recent showcause notice questioning why its recognition should not be revoked. The DoE highlighted that the affected students had paid the officially approved fees, contradicting the school’s claims of non-payment.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta weighed in on the broader issue of arbitrary fee hikes by schools, affirming her administration’s commitment to transparency and the protection of children’s rights in education. Gupta’s remarks came as her government issued notices to several schools, demanding explanations for fee increases under threat of stringent repercussions.
