The requirement of special education to children with special needs cannot be ignored as delay of even a day will severely impact them, the Delhi High Court said on Thursday.
The court’s observation came while directing the Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board (DSSSB) to give a reason for delay in recruiting special educators in schools of the Delhi government and the civic bodies.
‘Grave concern’
“This matter is certainly of grave concern. Education needs of children with special needs cannot be ignored. Delay of even a day will be of grave harm and will severely impact the children,” a Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar said.
The court was informed by the Delhi government that despite repeated requests to the DSSSB, the recruitment process for 432 special educators has not been completed.
The Bench directed the DSSSB to file an affidavit with details of the requests made by the government, the process of recruitment and the reason for the delay in recruiting special educators.
It directed that an official of the DSSSB, who was aware of the facts of the matter, be present before it on November 30, the next date of hearing, and that the government should ensure compliance of its order.
The court was hearing the matter, transferred to it by another judge of the High Court. A mother, through advocate Ashok Aggarwal, had approached the court saying her two sons with special needs have been studying at government schools for years but have not learnt anything.
