Giving succour to students belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS), the Directorate of Education (DoE) has asked all private schools in the Capital to provide free books and uniforms to them. The Delhi Government issued these directives to private schools and promised strict action against the defaulters.
Following several hearings in the High Court, in an affidavit on the behalf of the DoE, State has told the division bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog, “under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, children admitted in private schools under EWS up to Class 8 are entitled to free supply of books, uniforms and other study material.”
According to the DoE, private schools built on Government land are bound to provide all this gratis. “We are happy with the response of the Government as this will benefit 50,000 students from weaker sections. Several schools have not been abiding by the RTE Act causing suffering to kids,” said advocate Khagesh Jha, appearing for the petitioner organisation.
The petition had raised the issue of non-abidance of the Act by some schools alleging denial of free books and uniforms to poor students. The city Government has assured action against those schools. “The list of erring public schools will be provided and the respondents (DoE, DDA, land and Development Office) will take strict action against them,” said the Government’s affidavit, filed through Standing Counsel Zubeda Begum.
According to the petition, there are over 410 schools running on Delhi Development Authority’s land and they are under contractual obligation to provide freeship to EWS students. The petitioner organisation said that it had received several complaints from EWS students, who were either denied admission or the right to free books, uniforms and other study material, which is their right under Section 3(2) and Rule 8 of RTE Act. Aggrieved, nearly 40 kids, through the NGO, approached the High Court seeking freeship. The matter will come up for hearing on December 11.