Parents and school authorities in the national Capital are sceptical over the Supreme Court’s latest direction to the Delhi Government to explore if five or six interstate transfer students can be accommodated in each school for nursery admissions. While some said that it will be a boon to schools where nursery seats are still vacant, others are worried about the disadvantage 70 pointers will have to go through since their seats will now be extended to transfer cases.
A common contention among parents now is the special reservation being offered to interstate transfer cases. “If the transfer cases are put in the same pool as the 70 pointers, it is fair because then there is no special reservation for them. But if five or six students are given seats over and above the seats 70 pointers get, it leaves the 70 pointer as the disadvantaged lot,” said Rikky Khurana, a parent said.
Principal of Bal Bharati Public School, lV Sehgal, said that this will at least put an end to this long-standing problem. “If the Supreme Court feels that this can put an end to the problem then it should be implemented. We have been waiting for too long for a solution and need to start schools now. Besides, if this method is applied, there shouldn’t be a problem except in schools that have all seats have been filled,” he said.
However, there are school authorities that are disgruntled by the suggestion made by the Supreme Court. Ameeta Mulla Wattal, Principal of the Springdales School sought to know the fate of the draw of lots that has already been taken out for inter-state transfers in several schools. “We had done the lots way before, at the time when we were supposed to. In the lots, out of 23 seats, 14 went to transfer students and the rest went to 70 pointers. After this the DoE came personally and validated each of the transfer cases and authenticated them. Now, if we are required to keep only five or six of those 14 students, this will pose a complicated situation. The remaining students will be aggrieved by this decision,” she said.
However, not paying heed to these speculations, Padmini Singla, Director of Education, said that they will discuss the matter with the lieutenant-Governor of Delhi and then reach a conclusion. “We have been asked to look at all the pros and cons and then come to a conclusion. People should not speculate right now and wait for the order,” she added. The case will now be heard on Tuesday in SC before the same bench.