Allowing private unaided schools on government land to go ahead with nursery admissions, the Delhi High Court on Friday said the same would be subject to the outcome of the appeal by the Delhi government against the interim stay granted by the single judge on its January 7 notification.
The Delhi government’s notification made it mandatory for these schools to admit students from the neighbourhood.
Taking up the appeal of the Delhi government challenging the interim stay, a Bench headed by Chief Justice G. Rohini did not stay the single judge order.
“Totally wrong”
The government was seeking a stay maintaining that the single judge order was “totally wrong, erroneous and against the law”.
“Having regarded the fact that the admission process has already been in operation, it would not be proper to stop it...We, however, make it clear that whatever steps have been taken by the parties will be subject to the final outcome of the appeal that is pending,” the Bench said
“We will examine the issue. Meanwhile, a copy of the petition be served to the respondents [including two school associations and parents],” the Bench said, fixing the matter for February 22.
Appearing for the Directorate of Education, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain submitted that in the absence of the neighbourhood criterion, schools will accept admission in an arbitrary and opaque manner, and even charge exorbitant fee from the parents.
