Vipin Chandra Pal Govt. S.K.V. Babarpur, Delhi denied admission to Naazmeen and Nasara in class XI saying that that ‘the girls are overage (18+)’. Government Girls Senior Secondary School, K Bock, Jahangirpuri, Delhi and all other government schools in the area denied admission to Mamta, Reena and Pusha in class XI saying that ‘seats are full’. Government Girls Senior Secondary School, K Block, Jahangirpuri, Delhi denied admission to Kiran in class VI saying that ‘transfer certificate is not verified by the Education Officer of District Raibareilly’. Ishani Government Sarvodaya Vidyalaya. G Block, Saket, New Delhi denied admission to Nisha Barwal in class XI saying that the ‘there is no scope for admission in govt. schools for those who had passed CBSE Examination as private candidates’. Government Boys Senor Secondary School, K Block Jahangirpuri, Delhi denied admission to Abhishek Singh in class VII saying ‘students from unrecognized schools are ineligible for admission in Govt. School’. Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Seemapuri, Delhi denied admission to Neeraj in class XI saying that ‘since you are harassing us every day for admission, you will not be given admission’.
The students and their parents left no stone unturned in running from pillar to post in the education department of the government to convince their officials, up to the level of the Director of Education, that they have a right to admission in government school to pursue their education further. However, every one turned a deaf ear towards them. The government that promises education for all with emphasis on the education of the girl child closed all their doors for these unfortunate children of the masses.
Disgusted with the double standard of the government, the students approached me as a last resort to realize their basic human and fundamental rights to education and social justice as guaranteed to them under the Constitution of India. I took no time to make representations to the Director of Education thereby requesting him to look into the matter and ensure admission to the students. When no response was received from the education department, I filed writ petitions in Delhi High Court against the Delhi Govt. seeking admission of the students in government school. It is only after the High Court’s intervention, the government agreed to grant admission to the students.
The other day, I was attending a consultation meeting on ‘schooling for all’. The participants invariably pointing out that the government schools are refusing admission to the students on one pretext or the other. They wanted a solution to such a basic problem being faced by them every day. The consultation concluded without providing any answer to this problem. Being a latecomer, I lost the opportunity to address the meet on this issue. The object and purpose of narrating this success story of the students winning legal battle for admission is to share with public at large that the process of realization of right to education is undoubtedly full of difficulties but not impossible. While saying so, I am conscious of the fact that it is not easy for every student or parent to approach the court of law. They cannot afford to pay any money for the litigation. To make it easy, we need dedicated lawyers who can come forward and take up their cause in the court of law without charging any money on any account.
The students and their parents left no stone unturned in running from pillar to post in the education department of the government to convince their officials, up to the level of the Director of Education, that they have a right to admission in government school to pursue their education further. However, every one turned a deaf ear towards them. The government that promises education for all with emphasis on the education of the girl child closed all their doors for these unfortunate children of the masses.
Disgusted with the double standard of the government, the students approached me as a last resort to realize their basic human and fundamental rights to education and social justice as guaranteed to them under the Constitution of India. I took no time to make representations to the Director of Education thereby requesting him to look into the matter and ensure admission to the students. When no response was received from the education department, I filed writ petitions in Delhi High Court against the Delhi Govt. seeking admission of the students in government school. It is only after the High Court’s intervention, the government agreed to grant admission to the students.
The other day, I was attending a consultation meeting on ‘schooling for all’. The participants invariably pointing out that the government schools are refusing admission to the students on one pretext or the other. They wanted a solution to such a basic problem being faced by them every day. The consultation concluded without providing any answer to this problem. Being a latecomer, I lost the opportunity to address the meet on this issue. The object and purpose of narrating this success story of the students winning legal battle for admission is to share with public at large that the process of realization of right to education is undoubtedly full of difficulties but not impossible. While saying so, I am conscious of the fact that it is not easy for every student or parent to approach the court of law. They cannot afford to pay any money for the litigation. To make it easy, we need dedicated lawyers who can come forward and take up their cause in the court of law without charging any money on any account.
-By Ashok Agarwal
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