The Delhi High Court today sought the reply of the Delhi Government over its decision to scrap management quota in nursery admissions for private schools..The order came in the background of petitions filed by two organizations – Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education For All. These organizations had assailed the January 6 notification by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government which scrapped management and other quotas in the city’s private schools, barring the quota for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)..The AAP government had also scrapped 62 “arbitrary and discriminatory” criteria listed by schools on their websites for admissions..Today when the matter was called out before a Single Bench of Justice Manmohan, Senior Counsel Rajiv Nayyar appearing for the Petitioners argued that the said office order was without ‘any jurisdiction’ and had not been issued in pursuant to any existing statute or law. He also argued,.“The government cannot take away our autonomy with regard to nursery admissions when the same has been upheld by the high court and the Supreme Court. We are not championing the cause of scrapping the entire set of 62 criteria. But we are troubled with the abolition of management quota.”.Senior Advocate Guru Krishna Kumar who appeared for the Delhi Government told the Bench that the Government was ready to allay all concerns regarding the move, in its reply affidavit. While the Bench agreed to it, Justice Manmohan was not impressed with what he termed as a ‘last minute decision.’ He said,.“You cannot take away the autonomy of the schools. Also, this office order has not been passed under any statute. If anything, it follows from my earlier judgment. There is too much confusion. The admission process has already begun, why have you come up with the office order at the last minute?”.Responding to this, Kumar submitted that they had asked schools to upload the criteria by December 8 last year but it was uploaded only by December end..The Bench also questioned the Government over the status of public schools in the city..“There is a rush in private schools because the standard is not good in public schools. Why can’t you improve public schools? You are taking over private schools. Set your house in order.”.After hearing submissions made by all parties, the Bench proceeded to adjourn the hearing till January 28. Justice Manmohan further clarified in his order that parents can continue to fill up application forms as per the criteria uploaded on the website by the schools. However, he added, that the scrutiny of the said applications would be subject to further orders passed in the writ petitions in due course.
The Delhi High Court today sought the reply of the Delhi Government over its decision to scrap management quota in nursery admissions for private schools..The order came in the background of petitions filed by two organizations – Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education For All. These organizations had assailed the January 6 notification by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government which scrapped management and other quotas in the city’s private schools, barring the quota for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)..The AAP government had also scrapped 62 “arbitrary and discriminatory” criteria listed by schools on their websites for admissions..Today when the matter was called out before a Single Bench of Justice Manmohan, Senior Counsel Rajiv Nayyar appearing for the Petitioners argued that the said office order was without ‘any jurisdiction’ and had not been issued in pursuant to any existing statute or law. He also argued,.“The government cannot take away our autonomy with regard to nursery admissions when the same has been upheld by the high court and the Supreme Court. We are not championing the cause of scrapping the entire set of 62 criteria. But we are troubled with the abolition of management quota.”.Senior Advocate Guru Krishna Kumar who appeared for the Delhi Government told the Bench that the Government was ready to allay all concerns regarding the move, in its reply affidavit. While the Bench agreed to it, Justice Manmohan was not impressed with what he termed as a ‘last minute decision.’ He said,.“You cannot take away the autonomy of the schools. Also, this office order has not been passed under any statute. If anything, it follows from my earlier judgment. There is too much confusion. The admission process has already begun, why have you come up with the office order at the last minute?”.Responding to this, Kumar submitted that they had asked schools to upload the criteria by December 8 last year but it was uploaded only by December end..The Bench also questioned the Government over the status of public schools in the city..“There is a rush in private schools because the standard is not good in public schools. Why can’t you improve public schools? You are taking over private schools. Set your house in order.”.After hearing submissions made by all parties, the Bench proceeded to adjourn the hearing till January 28. Justice Manmohan further clarified in his order that parents can continue to fill up application forms as per the criteria uploaded on the website by the schools. However, he added, that the scrutiny of the said applications would be subject to further orders passed in the writ petitions in due course.
