The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has directed the Delhi government to take immediate legal action to ensure the uninterrupted education of 18,000 children under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category.
New Indian Express reported, in a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, that the commission said that they had received various complaints regarding the denial of admission to children belonging to the EWS category by private Delhi schools.
This was done despite the children being selected in the lottery system under the RTE Act, 2009.
At least 14 students, enrolled in one of the best private schools here under the EWS quota, have been asked to pay a fee of over ₹67,000 in the first term of the school year so that they can continue their studies, PTI reported.
Under the provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009, all private schools in Delhi are required to reserve and provide 25 percent space for students of the EWS and Disadvantaged Group (DG) at the time of admission and compulsorily provide them free education.
All India Parents Association (AIPA) Chairman Ashok Agarwal has issued a legal notice to Modern School Barakhamba Road in this regard.
According to PTI, no response was received from the school administration regarding the same.
Delhi government officials said they would look into the matter, noting that schools established on government land have an obligation to admit students under the EWS and DG department and provide them free education.