The AAP Government is planning to enact a law through which any school or person can face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment for interviewing any child or his or her parents for admission to nursery classes in the national Capital.
Also, the Government is planning to de-recognise those schools who fail to comply with the directions of the Director (Education).
The draft bill said, “An entry-level class means and includes a pre-primary or pre-school class where children below six years of age are admitted. Screening procedure means the method of selection for admission of a child, in preference over another, other than a random method.”
The proposed draft said any school or person, if in contravention of the provisions of the Act subjects a child to screening procedure for admission to an entry-level class, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 5 years but which may extend to 10 years provided that the court may, for any adequate and special reason to be recorded in writing, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term, which may be less than five years.
The draft said if the manager of the re-cognised school fails to comply with any of the directions issued by Director or any other authority under this Act, the Director may, after considering the explanation or report, if any, given or made by the manager, take such action, as he may think fit. The proposed action by the Director would include written warning to the school, with directions to take remedial or corrective measures as directed; stoppage of aid, if any; imposition of fine; in case of embezzlement of school-fund or concealment of income generated from the fee, recovery of the said amount and depositing thereof in the Government-account or any other account directed; suspension of admission at entry-level class or classes for a particular year with a cumulative effect; taking over the management of the school; de-recognition of the school.
The draft said whoever contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine which may be minimum of `1 lakh and further extendable to `5 lakh, provided that the court may, for any adequate and special reason to be recorded in writing, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term, which may be less than three years.
A proposed draft to this effect said, “The Delhi Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to amend the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 (18 of 1973) be enacted by the legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in the 66th year of the Republic of India.”
The draft bill said the new amendments in the Act will be applicable to the whole of the national Capital. It said the new amendments shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification, in the official gazette.