The nursery admissions row witnessed another twist as a few schools in the Capital started nursery classes on Tuesday leaving other school administrators and parents perplexed. As many feel that this might amount to the contempt of court, most people blame the Directorate of Education (DoE) for staying silent on the issue and thus creating confusion.
Padmini Singla, Director of Education said that since Tuesday was the first working day since the order of the Supreme Court was issued there was no circular sent out to schools. “There was no circular sent from us to the schools till Tuesday. However, as for the schools starting their nursery classes is concerned, it could be a matter of sheer confusion in interpreting the SC order,” she added. Around a dozen schools started their nursery classes on Tuesday, but the school authorities were unavailable to comment. Principal of Springdale School, Ameeta Mulla Wattal said that as per the SC order given to her, there was no way that schools could begin. “According to me, schools will come under contempt of court if they open. We have not been given any other information regarding the order. Even the DoE has not communicated to us. The disability quota information was also given to us four days late,” she said.
As for the issue regarding the contempt of court, Kamal Gupta, lawyer for the schools, said, “There has been major confusion amidst schools because of so many orders being issued. According to me, schools can start. The SC never put a stop on the nursery classes. It just stayed the interim order by the High Court regarding inter-state transfers. It is just that schools are being on the safer side and not starting classes.”
Advocate Ashok Agarwal, too, stated that schools were free to move ahead with the admission process. “Reading of the interim order of the Supreme Court makes it very clear that SC has only stayed the operation of the order dated April 3 of the division bench of Delhi High Court resulting in the restoration of the interim order dated March 6 of the single bench of Delhi High Court. The schools are free to proceed with the nursery admission process keeping in mind the interim order dated March 6. It will be totally wrong to read ‘stay of the admission process’ in the SC order,” he said.
Meanwhile, scores of parents were excited that their kids were finally in school. A parent in Safdarjung Enclave said, “It has been a nightmare up till now. But I am finally content that my child is studying. We can breathe a sign of relief.” A lot of parents posted on online forum admissionsnursery.com com as well stating their respite from the agony caused to them through the uncertainty about admissions.