Denied admission in schools, youth knocks HC door

Not just college, getting admission in government schools in the city too seems to have become an impossible task. 

A 16-year-old boy has knocked the doors of Delhi high court after he was denied admission in class IX at government schools for being over age by one year.    

The principals of over half-a-dozen schools turned away the student citing two reasons in writing – no vacant seat and <g data-gr-id="20">overage</g>.

“Principal of the schools showed us a circular of Directorate of Education on April 4, 2014, which states that the minimum age of <g data-gr-id="28">child</g> should more than 13 years but less than 15 years. As the candidate is of 16 years old, he can’t be admitted in class IX,” said Ashok Agarwal, an advocate in the case. The student passed his class VIII in 2014-15 academic session from a private school affiliated to Delhi government and <g data-gr-id="24">apporached</g> six schools in the area for <g data-gr-id="27">admission</g> but none granted him admission. 

These schools are - Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Dallupura, Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Kondli, Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Kalyanpuri, Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Kalyanvas, Government boys Sr. Sec. School, Khichdipur, Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal <g data-gr-id="25">Vidyalaya ,</g> East Vinod Nagar and Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal <g data-gr-id="26">Vidyalaya ,</g> Mandvali.

The student filed a writ petition in the High Court through advocate Agarwal challenging validity of the DoE circular on the grounds that the same is anti-child, arbitrary, discriminatory, irrational, unconstitutional, suffers from lack of authority in law, violative of Articles 14,15,21 and 21-A of the Constitution of India and contrary to the provisions of Delhi School Education Act, 1973. 

“The government cannot discriminate students on the ground of planned and non-planned admission policy,” added Agarwal. This is fourth case in Delhi high court regarding <g data-gr-id="22">denial</g> of admission by Delhi government schools.