SC refuses to stay revised rules on nursery admissions

The recently begun nursery admission process will continue as the Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the revised guidelines. It, however, agreed to hear the plea of private unaided schools on January 31.

It said private schools take extra fees for admitting students in management quota. “Let it (admission) go on,” said a bench head by Justice H L Dattu.

Questioning private schools for raising objections to the Lieutenant Governor’s notification for scrapping the management quota, the court said the decision must have been taken after considering all facts. “The LG is not only a good academician but also a good educationist,” the court said. LG Najeeb Jung had on December 18 and 27 issued guidelines that gave 70 points to the neighbourhood criteria and abolished 20 per cent management quota.

The court’s direction came on a plea moved by unaided private schools, which had challenged the order of the Delhi High Court for refusing to stay the guidelines. The HC had ordered the city government to notify new dates for admissions immediately.
The Action Committee Unaided Recognised Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education for All had challenged the order of the Delhi High Court.

The Action Committee Unaided Recognized Private Schools had sought setting aside of the 2014-15 guidelines on the ground that the office of the Lieutenant Governor lacked the power to frame them. The HC had dismissed their plea for interim stay, saying that any interference will prove “detrimental” to the interests of children.

“We are of the view that the appellants have not been able to satisfy us of any irreparable loss and injury to them from the non-grant of the interim order sought,” it had said.

“We are further in agreement with the learned single Judge that any interference at this stage would create confusion and would be detrimental to the interests of children as well as parents of the wards who are seeking admission,” the HC had said.
The new nursery guidelines were finalised by the LG, who was asked by the High Court to look into the matter after an NGO filed a petition saying that the guidelines were not in accordance with the Right to Education Act.

According to the revised guidelines, 70 points out of 100 will be given to those kids who live within the radius of 8 km from school.