More complaints of schools denying admission to minority students pour in

“My daughter was denied admission by a renowned minority school in 2011 and then again in 2012. they have cited no reason for it. The Principal was not even willing to meet me. After getting no response from the school authorities,I finally turned to the Zilla Parishad on April 30. But since then,the ZP has not even carried out a single inquiry into the whole matter,” said Advocate Jatin Adhav,who is a Christian. “My daughter,who should actually be going to school,has been sitting at home for the past two years because the school refuses to admit her even though we have all the requisite documents and she has all the right to get an admission there.”

In a reply to Advocate Adhav’s application to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and ZP under Right to Information Act,seeking details of minority schools in the city,both denied having any information.

“While the PMC said that they do not have any information regarding this and will collect it once the schools reopen,the Zilla Parishad gave me a letter that said that I can individually go to the schools and get information about the schools from them,” said Adhav.

There have been several complaints of not granting admissions to students belonging to minority communities this year.

Vishwas Mhaske,a parent,has also complained against another well-known school in the city for denying admission to his son even though there were seats available at the time of application.

“I had applied online but the school replied that my son has not got admission. When I met the principal and asked for a reason,he didn’t bother to reply and ignored me. If the minority schools do not give admission to minority students,then who will?” Mhaske asked.

ZP Education Officer (Primary) D Kurhade said,“We are in the process of getting information from all the minority schools. Once we get the information,we will constitute an inquiry commission. The minority schools are supposed to reserve 50 per cent seats to minority students. If they do not give them admission,some serious action can be taken against them.

“It has come into our notice that this year too the schools are troubling the parents and we are in the process of collecting information from about 8 to 10 new schools. We will definitely inquire into the matter soon.”