Schools move HC,seek stay on new rules

“Schools have always enjoyed autonomy in matters of admission. Through this petition,we seek to get back the autonomy which has always been enjoyed by private schools in matter of admissions granted to it by Delhi government. We feel it must be restored,” S K Bhattacharya,president,Action Committee for Unaided Recognised Private Schools,said.

“The L-G’s office is not authorised to issue such orders. It is empowered to only suggest parameters,not fix them. The government is not authorised to control admissions,” Bhattacharya said.

Abolishing management quota and allotting a fixed point system for schools,the new guidelines have been received positively by most parents. However,they have drawn flak from schools who view it as “encroachment of autonomy”.

The new political leadership has also appreciated the guidelines,with Education Minister Manish Sisodia terming them “progressive and forward looking”.

There is,however,a fear amidst many that the admission process may be delayed due to the litigation. Nursery admission usually begins by January 1,but has already been delayed by 15 days. School authorities have assured that they wouldn’t take any step “against children’s interests”.

“We do not want parents and children to suffer. The old guidelines will be reinstated — that is what we mean by the stay. We want the entire admission process to be transparent and objective,that is why we have filed the petition,” Bhattacharya said.

According to PTI,the Central government,Directorate of Education and the office of L-G have been made parties in the plea. The admission process for nursery is scheduled to start from January 15,with the last date for submission of applications fixed for January 31.