A decade wait for legal decision on DPS site

Union Ministers Ambika Soni and Pawan Bansal,who were the members of the society,landed in the thick of controversy over allegations that the society was allotted land at throwaway prices. The land was allegedly provided for Rs 90 lakh against the market rate of around Rs 50 crore.

The PIL alleged that the UT Administration allotted 29,218.10 square yards to HES for running Delhi Public School by amending the existing rules.

The petitioner had requested that during the pendency of the petition,the society should be restrained from undertaking any construction on the site. The petition had further alleged that the society did not qualify or fit into the parameters of eligibility and other criteria enunciated in the scheme framed by the Administration for rehabilitating private schools that were running in violation of Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act 1952.

Kumar had contended that amendment of the eligibility criteria where the requirement of the prior experience was omitted has been done under political pressure.

Replying to these charges,HES responded by stating that the society was formed in the year 2000 with the aim of providing quality education aimed at character building amongst the youth. It was further stated that DPS Society was one of the leading educational organizations in the country involved in setting up and running scores of educational institutions. It was in 2001 that HES approached DPS Society for setting up a school.

The reply further states that HES applied for allotment of a high school site in March 2002. The representatives appeared before the screening committee. It was stated that HES was a deserving candidate for allotment of the high school site.