Free books, uniform for EWS kids: HC to set up panel, seeks names

Delhi high court on Friday decided to set up a panel to work out modalities of providing free study material and uniforms to poor children in private and government schools.

A Bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul asked Delhi government and private schools to suggest names of experts from the field of education and also from the government, who could be made part of the committee. The court will then set up the panel, which would not only work out the modalities but also monitor whether free books and uniforms were being provided to students from Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in private and government schools. 

The Bench decided to set up the expert panel after Delhi government senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra told the court that the AAP administration was in favour of bringing uniformity in uniforms and study material provided to EWS kids vis-a-vis other students.

He said the government was of the view that a committee can be set up to work out the modalities and urged the court to set it up.

The submission was made in response to the court’s recent query to Delhi government whether it can provide free uniform and books to poor students in private unaided schools, saying it needs to take a “re-look” to ensure that there is no “class divide” among children. The suggestion to the government had come on a PIL by NGO Justice for All seeking grant of free books and uniform to EWS children admitted in private unaided schools.

Though the court has reserved its verdict in the matter, it took up the matter to ascertain the government’s view.