In a recent ruling, the Delhi High Court emphasized the importance of providing equal opportunities for economically weaker section (EWS) students to study in schools and integrate into mainstream society.
Justice Mini Pushkarna directed G.D. Goenka Public School to grant admission to three students under the EWS category, highlighting the significance of inclusivity and access to quality education for all.
The court's decision came in response to a contempt petition filed by the parents of the three children, seeking compliance with the High Court's previous order from December 2021, which directed the private school to admit the students under the EWS quota.
Recognizing the detrimental impact of denying admission to EWS students, the court stressed that every vacant seat designated for the EWS category represents a denial of quality education to a child from an economically disadvantaged background. The court further noted that such denials violate the children's rights under Article 21A of the Constitution and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
The three students in question had applied for admission to G.D. Goenka Public School's kindergarten for the 2021-2022 academic session. Following a draw of lots conducted by the Directorate of Education (DOE), they were allotted seats at the school under the EWS category.
However, the school raised objections to their admission, including claims that their residences were located 5-6 kilometers away from the school. One of the students faced additional scrutiny as the school alleged that the child's address could not be verified during physical verification.
Justice Pushkarna emphasized that the DOE allocates seats to schools based on the declared class strength, leaving no justifiable reason for the school to deny admission to the petitioners. Consequently, the court ordered the immediate admission of the students to Class 1.
This ruling by the Delhi High Court reaffirms the principle of equal opportunities for EWS students in the education system and highlights the school's obligation to reserve seats for EWS students as mandated by the RTE Act.
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