Thursday, October 17, 2013

Teachers leaving unaided schools after 01.01.2006 are entitled to benefit of 6 Pay Commission

Delhi High Court in its decision dated 23.09.2013 in W.P.(C)237/2013 in case of Deepika Jain vs Rukmini Devi Public School ordered the school to make payment to Deepika Jain in terms of 6th pay commission for the period from 1.1.2006 to 11.10.2007. The Court held "petitioner will be entitled to not only to arrears which would be payable to her but also the enhancement of salary in terms of the 6th Pay Commission Report for the period from 1.1.2006 to 11.10.2007 as prayed for in the writ petition." Deepika Jain was denied his due arrears of salary arising out of 6th Pay Commission after she left the services on 11.10.2007. She through Advocate Ashok Agarwal filed writ petition in the High Court against Rukmini Devi Public School claiming arrears of salary. The Court has also ordered for payment of the due amount along with 6% interest thereupon within 3 months.

Friday, September 20, 2013

UGC-NET Examination December 2012 - UGC admits its mistake - Shruti Jain & Amandeep Kaur get NET Qualified Certificates

Shruti Jain & Amandeep Kaur through Advocate Ashok Agarwal had filed writ petition in Delhi High Court highlighting that the answer key uploaded by UGC on its website in regard to NET Examination held by the UGC in December, 2012 was an incorrect answer. According to petitioners, option B is the correct answer whereas as per the key, option A was the correct answer. The High Court by orders dated 12.07.2013, directed UGC to consider the issue in the light of books and literature submitted by the petitioners. The UGC after High Court orders, examined the issue and found that option B was the correct answer and issued NET Qualified certificates to both the petitioners on Friday, 11/09/2013.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Corporal Punishment - 11 class student writes to Advocate Ashok Agarwal Against Delhi Govt School Principal

JOIN DOWN TO EARTH ACTIVITY - LAWYERS + TEAM SUNDAY 08 SEPTEMBER 2013 PROGRAMME AT PITAM PURA (SLUMS), DELHI

Lawyers Plus Team of Social Jurist led by Adv Ashok Agarwal shall visit Slums at Pitampura (Jhuggis opposite to Gopala Mandir, Pitampura, Delhi) on Sunday September 08, 2013 from 8.00 am to 10.00 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to education and right to health. Those interested to join us may please reach at 8.00 am sharp at G.D. Goenka la Petiti (Playway School) R P Block G P Block Pitampura, Near TV Tower and at walking distance from Netaji Place Metro Station . Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 07.09.2013

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Jahangirpuri students write RTE Postcards to Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice highlighting sorry state of affairs in schools

SOCIAL JURIST A Civil Rights Group To Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice Mr. B.D. Ahmed High Court of Delhi New Delhi: 110003 August 27, 2013 Subject: Sorry state of affairs in Government and MCD run schools in Jahangirpuri Respected Sir, As part of our effort to critically analyse the position of implementation of right to education, the Social Jurist team, visited a stretch of slums in the Jahangirpuri area on Sunday 04.08.2013 and gathered feedback of students residing in the locality regarding the state of the schools. The students expressed their experiences and views regarding the Delhi Government-run and MCD schools in the area on post-cards addressed to your Hon’ble self. The findings are being briefed up hereunder. The children who wrote post-cards were mainly distributed among three schools: (i) the MCD Primary School, Jahangirpuri, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, K-Block, Jahangirpuri and Government Boys Senior Secondary School, K-Block, Jahangirpuri. A handful of students from the locality were attending to the Government Boys Senior Secondary School, A-Block, Jahangirpuri and the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, A-Block, Jahangirpuri. The problems that have surfaced from the study of these post-cards seem to be part of the common story about all the Government and MCD-run schools in the city: lack of hygiene, unusable toilets, lack of access to drinking water, poor electrical arrangements, lack of desks, lack of discipline, teacher-absenteeism, teachers’ misbehavior and so on. Forty postcards having been written by the students are attached hereto for your kind consideration. MCD Primary School, Jahangirpuri (8 post-cards) • Students from this school have expressed the hardships faced by them due to absence of usable toilets in the school. The toilets meant for students remain very dirty, stinky and unusable. The better ones are reserved for the teachers and if students dare use the same, they are assaulted at the hands of the teachers for doing so. • There is also no proper provision of drinking water in the school. The taps give out unclean water misfit for drinking. • There is a problem of frequent power-cuts in the school. • The mid-day meals are not supplied properly or in sufficient quantity. Moreover, students are engaged for serving mid-day meals. Further, the students are made to stand in a row and eat their meals. • There is massive scarcity of benches in the school. Besides the same, the school premises and play-ground get water-logged during rains, adding to the problem of lack of hygiene. Government Girls Senior Secondary School, K-Block (16 post-cards) • Insects found in mid-day meal on one occasion • Insufficient quantity of mid-day meal served in school • Toilets remain very dirty; on complaining to teachers, they in turn scold the children • Lack of cleanliness in school premises • Children have to stand in the open sun for morning prayers • Studies not properly conducted in the school; proper attention not given to studies • Students not encouraged to ask questions; rather, they are scolded and insulted if they are unable to understand and ask queries • Some teachers have a very positive attitude and are concerned about the students’ future • Mid-day meal not supplied on time • No proper provision for toilets in school • No adequate provision of benches in the school; three children have to share a single bench • Problem of indiscipline and physical fights among students • While exiting the school premises, girls have to face harassment in the nature of obscene and sexist remarks from boys who come for the second shift school • Water collects in the school during rains • Several teachers do not take their classes; many teachers do not report to school in time • Shortage of teachers in school • No proper provision for playing in the school • No proper arrangement of drinking water in school; out of four installed water-tanks, only one is functional • Overcrowding in classrooms • Insufficient, broken and non-functional fans in school Government Boys Senior Secondary School, K-Block (14 post-cards) State of amenities, provisions and hygiene • Toilets in the school remain locked; students have to go in the open for call of nature • There is no proper drinking water facility in the school • The school authorities have complete disregard for hygiene and cleanliness in school. The conditions in the school are very unhygienic. • The school faces the problem of water-logging during rains, which worsens the prevailing unhygienic conditions • Electrical fittings such as fans, bulbs and tube-lights are missing in many classrooms • On some days, mid-day meal is not supplied in school Teachers’ performance, behavior and state of administration in school • Teachers generally behave rudely and abusively with the students. They even assault students and make them sit on the floor for asking questions. • Hardly 3-4 teachers come to school on a given day; sometimes even they go missing. Most of the teachers do not come to school in time. As a result, out of 8 periods, only two to four are conducted on a given day. • Teachers are least interested to teach the students. Studies are not conducted properly in the school. • Students have to stand in the sun for prayers which may be particularly taxing upon the students’ health in case the school is an evening-shift school. • Physical fights are common among students; general discipline is poor. Government Girls Senior Secondary School, A-Block (2 post-cards) • School toilets are in a dirty and unusable state. • There are no functional fans in class-rooms. • There is an enormous over-crowding in class-rooms. One of the students has written that there are 64 students in her Section of Class VII. Government Boys Senior Secondary School, A-Block (1 Post-card) • There are no functional fans in class-rooms. • There is a lack of general discipline in the school; truancy is rampant among students and the same remains unchecked; most of the children leave school at recess. Under the RTE-PIL-Postcards campaign as well as visits to the schools, it has been a general experience that schools of both categories, the ones managed by the Delhi Government and those managed by the MCD, are plagued by problems of very fundamental nature and are far away from the goal of providing quality education. It is indeed a misfortune that after 66 years of independence, the government has not been able to ensure the very basics such as teacher-attendance and hygiene even for the schools in the Capital city. The questions such as raising the bars of education, rethinking, debating and redrawing the goals of our education-system are nowhere in consideration as we are still struggling to arrange the basic infrastructure and conditions even for elementary education. In these circumstances, your constructive interventions are sought so as to trigger a change in the hopeless state of things. With regards, Ashok Agarwal, Advocate Advisor, Social Jurist M: 9811101923

Saturday, August 17, 2013

JOIN DOWN TO EARTH ACTIVITY - LAWYERS + TEAM SUNDAY 18 AUGUST 2013 PROGRAMME AT BAWANA

Lawyers Plus Team of Social Jurist led by Adv Ashok Agarwal shall visit Slums at Bawana, Delhi on Sunday August 18, 2013 from 8.00 am to 10.00 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to education and right to health. Those interested to join us may please reach at Bawana JJ Bus Stop at 8.00 am sharp. From 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, there will be RTE PIL POSTCARD CAMPAIGN meeting in which over 100 students of classes V to XII of various MCD and Delhi Government Schools of the area and also their parents are expected to participate and to write postcards to Delhi High Court Chief Justice on 'STATUS OF EDUCATION STATUS IN SCHOOLS AFTER 3 YEARS OF RTE Act, 2009.' Contact person Ms. Uma Devi M-8800413297 Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 17.08.2013

EVEN UNRECOGNISED UNAIDED SCHOOLS TEACHERS ARE ENTITLED TO 6 PAY COMMISSION SALARIES - HOLDS DELHI HIGH COURT

In a far reaching judgment, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Valmiki J. Mehta of Delhi High Court has held that S. 10 of Delhi School Education Act, 1973 which mandates that the salaries of the employees of an unaided recognised private school shall not be less than those employees of the corresponding status in the Government school even apply to teachers working in unrecognized unaided schools. “In this Public Interest Litigation (Social Jurist, a Civil Rights Group vs. GNCT & Ors) the Division Bench of this Court has specifically laid down the ratio that the provisions of Delhi School Education Act and Rules, 1973 will apply even to unrecognized schools which are run in Delhi”, Justice Valimiki held. This ruling came on a petition filed by the 19 teachers of St. Anthony’s Girls Primary School through Advocate Ashok Agarwal claiming payment of their salaries in terms of 6 Pay Commission Recommendations. The school claiming itself an unrecognized unaided school pleaded before the Court that S. 10 of Delhi School Education Act, 1973 was not applicable to its teachers. Rejecting the school’s plea, the Court held that the Act even applied to unaided unrecognized private schools and teachers claim was justified and were entitled to salaries in terms of 6 Pay Commission with 6% interest. The Court also ordered initiation of contempt proceedings against the members of the School Managing Committee after finding that the school has taken up a blatantly false stand before the Court that the school is not recognized in spite of the fact that recognition had been granted way back on 02.06.1979 by the Director of Education. The Court has issued contempt notices to the members of the School Managing Committee to reply by 30 September 2013. Copy of the Judgment attached. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 16.08.2013

Saturday, August 10, 2013

SECURITY OF SERVICES OF TEACHERS IN UNAIDED PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Valmiki J. Mehta J of Delhi High Court in one of its recent judgments has referred to Article 21-A (right to education) of the Constitution of India for the benefit of teachers employed with the unaided private schools in Delhi. A common unjust practice to employ teachers on probation by unaided schools and to continue the same for years together without confirmation in service is being followed. Such teacher always remain under the threat of termination of services without remedy. The Hon'ble Judge applying Article 21-A of the Constitution has laid down the maximum period of probation as three years while interpreting Rule 105 of the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Talibana style of functioning of Admission Incharge at G.G.S.S. School No.2 Molarband, Badarpur denying admission in class VI to a girl student Anshu Singh

ALL INDIA PARENTS ASSOCIATION Aggarwal Bhawan, G. T. Karnal Road, Tis Hazari, Delhi -110054 To Prof. Ms. Kiran Walia Ji Hon’ble Education Minister Government of NCT of Delhi Delhi Secretariat I.P. Estate, New Delhi August 8, 2013 Subject: Talibana style of functioning of Admission Incharge at G.G.S.S. School No.2 Molarband, Badarpur denying admission in class VI to a girl student Anshu Singh Dear Madam This is to seek your intervention in the matter of admission of an underprivileged girl Anshu Singh (age 11yrs.) daughter of a watchman Sh. Kamal Dev Singh (M-9910904591) who passed her class Vth from B.S. Memorial Public School Roshan Nagar Agwanpur, Faridabad. Despite her case been recommended by the Dy. Director of Education (South) Defence Colony for admission in G.G.S.S. School No.2 Molarband and all the required papers been submitted by her father the Admission Incharge gave no firm answer and said “we will call you”. This School is around 1 ½ K.M. from the place of residence of the girl student. After the father made innumerous rounds of the school on 30-07 2013 the Principal of the school said the admissions are over and asked the father of the girl student to take back all the papers submitted by him. When the father refused to do so the Admission Incharge called the Guards of the school and asked them not to let the father leave the school premises until he takes back papers submitted for the admission of his daughter. Sh. Kamal Dev Singh had to call the PCR on 100 for his safety as the guards were about to manhandle him. After the intervention of the police he could leave the school premises although the police constable also pressurized him to take his papers back or otherwise they will be thrown in the dustbin. The above mentioned episode clearly reflects the Talibani mind set of the Admission Incharge and the total insensitivity of the school authorities towards the RTE of the poor children. Letter from the father of the girl, addressed to me, is attached herewith for your reference. It is submitted that this is a very unfortunate example that I am bringing to your notice. You are requested to personally intervene in the matter not only for the sake of this girls’ right to education but to ensure that this illegal practice of denial of admission to children on a routine-basis and high headedness of the officers of the school can be checked. With regards, Ashok Agarwal, Advocate National President, AIPA M: 9811101923

Friday, August 2, 2013

JOIN DOWN TO EARTH ACTIVITY - LAWYERS + TEAM SUNDAY 04 AUGUST 2013 PROGRAMME AT JAHANGIRPURI

Lawyers Plus Team of Social Jurist led by Adv Ashok Agarwal shall visit Slums at Jahangirpuri, Delhi on Sunday August 04, 2013 from 8.00 am to 10.00 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to education and right to health. Those interested to join us may please reach at State Bank of India, opposite K Block Government School, Jahangpuri, Delhi at 8.00 am sharp. Nearest Metro Station is 'Jahangirpur'. From 11.00 am to 01.00 pm, there will be RTE PIL POSTCARD CAMPAIGN meeting in which over 100 students of classes V to XII of various MCD and Delhi Government Schools of the area are expected to participate and to write postcards to Delhi High Court Chief Justice on 'AFTER 3 YEARS OF RTE ACT, 2009.' Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 02.08.2013

Saturday, July 27, 2013

St. Stephen's Hospital stops free treatment to 15 yrs old poor patient - Social Jurist writes to Hospital

To The Medical Superintendent St. Stephen’s Hospital Tis Hazari, Delhi: 1100 54 27.07.2013 Subject: Request for continuing free treatment of 15 year old patient Neha Sir, This is in regard to Ms. Neha, a 15 year old female child suffering from a kidney disorder. Your Hospital had been giving free treatment to the child for nearly 13 years (Hospital No: F85907, I.P. No.F85907/5). She had also been admitted to the Hospital on various occasions, latest from 10.07.2013 to 13.07.2013. (Copy of discharge summary attached) However, recently, on 15.07.2013, when her grandmother brought her to the Hospital, she was told by the Social Worker at your Hospital that the Hospital shall no longer extend free treatment to her she would have to bear all the expenses. It is submitted that Ms. Neha is a child without parental support and is looked after by her maternal grandmother, a poor senior citizen belonging to EWS category. In these circumstances, it is requested that your Hospital may kindly continue with her free treatment. With regards, Ashok Agarwal, Advocate Advisor, ocial Jurist M-09811101923 Enclosure: A copy of the discharge-summary of Ms. Neha

Friday, July 26, 2013

JOIN DOWN TO EARTH ACTIVITY - LAWYERS + TEAM SUNDAY 28 JULY 2013 PROGRAMME

Lawyers Plus Team of Social Jurist led by Adv Ashok Agarwal shall visit Slums at Lalbagh, Azadpur, Delhi on Sunday July 28, 2013 from 8.00 am to 10.00 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to education and right to health. Those interested to join us may please reach at Masjid on G.T. Road, outside Lalbagh Slums at 8.00 am sharp. Nearest Metro Station is Azadpur. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 26.07.2013

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

DANIK JAGRAN NEW DELHI 24 JULY 2013 ON SCHOOL MID-DAY MEAL

MUSLIM CHILDREN DENIED ADMISSION IN DELHI GOVT & MCD SCHOOLS

Parents belonging to Muslim community and residing at Shastri Park, Buland Darwaja, Delhi have approached Advocate Ashok Agarwal this morning complaining that their wards are denied admission both in Delhi Government and MCD run schools of the area. It is submitted that the Government and MCD schools have made mockery of the right to education. Poor parents are harassed by the schools when they approach them for admission of their wards. It is interesting to note that the parents belonging to Muslim community are expressing their interest in the education of their children but the Government is totally insensitive towards them.

Monday, July 22, 2013

ADV ASHOK AGARWAL JOINS BODY DONATION CAMP ORGANISED BY AIDWA

WHO IS CHEAT: PARENTS OR GOVERNMENT ?

Deccan Herald Sunday July 21, 2013 carried a story under caption "Forged certificates used to get into KVs". This report says, " The RTI replies revealed that parents of 13 children got their wards enrolled in class I at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pushp Vihar, on the basis of forged Central Government service certificates in 2011." One of such parents today came to my office at High Court and told me that his son is studying in class VI in Sangam Vihar KV. The Principal of the school is not allowing his son to attend the classes and is asking him to obtain TC. He is working in a private establishment and hardly earns monthly income of Rs.6000/-. His son was admitted in class I six years ago. As he wanted his son in a good school, he had no other option except to produce a bogus service certificate in the school. The bigger issue is: Whether arbitrary and discriminatory KVs Admission Criteria has forced innocent parents to produce fake Central Government service certificates for admission of their wards in KVs? I may not be understood as one justifying the parents deeds of producing fake service certificates in KVs. What I am candidly focusing is the circumstances having been created by the Central Government itself that has forced the parents to go to this extent. Why the Central Government has denied equal opportunity of admission in KVs to every child? It is submitted that the KVs Admission Policy is not only arbitrary and discriminatory but also unconstitutional and contrary to the provisions of RTE Act, 2009.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Pay 5th and 6th Pay Commissions salaries to teachers- Delhi High Court orders unaided schools

Delhi High Court (Valmiki J. Mehta J.) today provided relief to as many as 48 teaching and non-teaching employees by directing Arya Vidya Mandir and C.L. Bhalla Dayanand Model School to pay to their employees arrears of salaries in terms of 5th and 6th Pay Commissions within 3 months, failing which, the schools have also to pay 9% interest. These directions came on the petitions filed by the employees of these schools through Adv. Ashok Agarwal. Mr. Ashok Agarwal appearing for the teaching and non-teaching staff argued that by not paying due salaries and other benefits to the employees, the unaided private schools are exploiting them. Rejecting the plea of financial constraints raised by unaided schools Justice Valmiki J Mehta held that financial constraints cannot be held as valid ground for unaided private schools to deny salaries, DA, ACP and MACP benefits due to their employees under 5th and 6th Pay Commissions. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 19.07.2013

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Archaic Delhi Government School at Nathupura shuts its door for 12 year old deaf and dumb girl

ALL INDIA PARENTS ASSOCIATION Aggarwal Bhawan, G. T. Karnal Road, Tis Hazari, Delhi -110054 To Prof. Ms. Kiran Walia Education Minister Government of NCT of Delhi Secretariat I.P. Estate New Delhi-11002 17.07.2013 Sub: - Archaic Delhi Government School at Nathupura shuts its door for 12 year old deaf and dumb girl Dear Madam, An appalling story of grave apathy towards disabled children and their rights, coupled with blatant disregard of various laws and Delhi High Court Orders has come to light wherein the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Nathu Pura, Delhi-84 has denied admission to a 12 year-old deaf and dumb girl, Shivani purely on the ground of her disability, that too, after making her and her father run from pillar to pole for half a month. . Shivani’s father has approached me with a written complaint dated 17.07.2013 seeking assistance for getting the girl admitted to the nearby government school. The said complaint letter is enclosed hereto for your reference. Kumari Shivani d/o Shesh Mani Misra (09891281090) r/o 576, Gali no. 25, Chandan Vihar, West Sant Nagar, Burari, Delhi-110084 has passed class VII from Bajrang Vidya Mandir Junior High School, Beera Pur Kelalal Khan, Faizabad while staying with her grandparents in the village. Now she has shifted to Delhi and is living with her father at Burari. She possesses a valid Transfer Certificate from the previous school duly counter signed by the Education Officer. Kumari Shivani along with her father had approached the Government Girls Senior Secondary School (First Shift) Nathu Pura, Delhi-110084 on 02.07.2013 for her admission to class VIII. The Principal of the school asked her father to produce the girl’s Aadhar card and also get a bank account opened in her name as a pre-condition for her admission. Without getting demoralized by such tedious and ridiculous pre-conditions, the girl and her father took steps to get both the formalities completed and again approached the school on 15.07.2013.This time, to their utter surprise, they were told by the school Principal that the school does not fall in the area in which she resides and therefore they should approach the government school at Burari. They now turned to the Government School at Burari and were as usual directed back to the Nathupura school. Determined not to give up, the father and daughter again went to Nathupura School on 16.07.2013. But this time around, the Principal at Nathu Pura School blatantly cited the reason of her disability to deny her admission. She further directed the father and daughter to either approach another school or go to the Education Officer at Lucknow Road. Shivani is now sitting idle at home while her father is running from pillar to pole at the cost of his work in his effort to afford her an admission in the nearby school. The most horrible part of the story is that this is not the first case where a government school has denied admission to a child with disability but it is a routine affair. It is quite apparent from such repeated instances that the persons who are manning the schools are highly insensitive and ignorant of the right to education of children with disability. Astonishingly, the token service being rendered to the handful of disabled children in Delhi Government schools through Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan Resource Teachers too has been withdrawn by the Government, as these resource teachers have been disengaged. Thus the Government now seems to have resorted to a policy of naked disregard for the disabled children. It is needless to reiterate here that way back in 2009 the Hon’ble High Court in a Social Jurist PIL has expressly directed that no state run school shall deny admission to any child with disability, besides directing the appointment of at least two special educators in each school. Moreover, the 2010 Amendment in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 has clearly emphasized that every child with disability has an equal fundamental and statutory right to study in a full time main-stream school. Therefore the officers who deny admission to children with disabilities are not only guilty of violating the Fundamental and statuary rights of these children available to them under Articles 14, 21A and 38 of the Constitution of India and the RTE Act, 2009 but also of contempt of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. Unfortunately the Government of Delhi has always been soft towards these erring officials. I hope and expect that the government will take immediate action in this matter and set an effective precedent for all government officials to be careful, vigilant and sensitive towards the legal rights of the children with disabilities. In the meantime, it is requested that appropriate steps be taken to get the girl admitted to the school on priority basis without any delay and ensure appropriate assistance to her in overcoming the hurdles likely to be faced by her in her education on account of disability. With Regards Ashok Agarwal, Advocate National President, AIPA M:-9811101923

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Bhagvan Mahavir Hospital denies free treatment to its own poor employee - Member Monitoring Committee writes to Hospital

To The Medical Superintendent Bhagvan Mahavir Hospital Sector-14 Extension Madhuban Chowk, Rohini New Delhi-110085 16.07.2013 Dear Sir, Find enclosed hereto a letter of Ms. Neha Sharma stated to have been working with you for last 19 years as Aya and drawing monthly salary of Rs. 7000/-. Her son has recently remain admitted in your hospital as he was suffering from malaria. Your hospital has raised a bill for Rs. 10,000/- and pressuring her to make payment thereof though she is covered under E.W.S category patients and legally entitled to free treatment in regard to her son. She has now approached me for help. You are requested to consider her request for not insisting upon payment of any amount on account of treatment having being given to her son in the hospital and do the needful. With regards, Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-9811101923

Thursday, July 11, 2013

VICTORY FOR EWS GIRL STUDENTS

Kulachi Hansraj Model School that had denies admission to over 15 E.W.S girl students in class XI, after receipt of notice from All India Parents Association, called all the students and then not only granted admission but also given copies and books to them. The principal told the students, "Don't think that I am granting you admission due to pressure on account of notice received by us but because we wanted you to study."

Sunday, July 7, 2013

DELHI GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL NEGLECTS POOR PATIENT

60 years old lady Kherunisha (M-9718633231) yesterday evening called me on my mobile literally crying for help. She told me that she is suffering from multiple fracture and has been lying in the corridor of LNJP Hospital for the last one month unattended by the Doctors. She has been denied treatment on the alleged ground of non-availability of bed in the Hospital. I was very much upset and disturb after listening to this lady. I advised her relative to contact ews nodal officer of the LNJP Hospital and get the patient referred to any identified private hospital for free treatment under ews category. I was told after an hour by the relative of the patient that he has contacted the office of the Medical Superintendent and has been told that nothing could be done before Monday. What kind of rotten system it is? I thought. I started looking for the possibilities. I contacted Dr. A.P.Choudhry, Director (Medical), Maharaja Agarsen Hospital, Punjabi Bagh and shared with him the problem. After sometime I got a call from Dr. Choudhry telling me that though the EWS quota beds were already fully occupied but if I wanted that patient to be accommodated under ews quota, the same would be done. I requested Dr. Choudhry to accommodate the poor and needy patient. He agreed to that and told me to send the patient to the Hospital. Thereafter the patient after hiring an ambulance went to Maharaja Agarsen Hospital and was admitted. Old lady patient Kherunisha today talked to me from the Hospital and seemed to be very happy.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

POSTCARDS FROM DELHI GOVT SCHOOLS STUDENTS –SCHOOLS ASK STUDENTS TO BRING BROOMS & PAINTS

EAST DELHI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION-RUN SCHOOL TURNS OUT DISABLED GIRL STUDENT

East Delhi Municipal Corporation run school at Kalyanpuri turns out 11 years old Shalu, a mentally retarded student, from the school illegally and in violation of RTE Act, 2009. The Mother of Shalu, has approached Advocate Ashok Agarwal for taking up the cause of Kumari Shalu.

Friday, July 5, 2013

DELHI GOVT DOUBLE-SHIFT SCHOOL DECISION IS A FRAUD ON CHILDREN

Congress ruled Delhi Government decision to allow unaided private schools of Delhi to run double-shift schools is a big fraud being played by it on the children of this Capital City of India. Such a decision is only in favor of the Greedy Private Schools Owners. All India Parents Association (AIPA) is totally opposed to this decision. NCERT Expert Committee on RTE Act, 2009 headed by Advocate Ashok Agarwal as back as on 03.03.2010 had recommended that all double shift schools would need to be forthwith converted to single shift schools, with the teacher pupil ratios as specified in the Schedule to the RTE Act, 2009.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Vote bank politics stretches its tentacles to school-education

ALL INDIA PARENTS ASSOCIATION (AIPA) PRESS-RELEASE 04.07.2013 A news report which appeared in a leading daily toady reads that the Delhi government is planning to extend “relaxations” in the criteria for eligibility in admission to various streams of Class XII for the benefit of minorities and OBCs. Under the proposed scheme, students belonging to these categories shall be able to avail of a relaxation of up to one grade-point in one of the subjects. The news report further reads that such a relaxation is already available to children belonging to SC/ST and Kashmiri migrant communities. However, the larger question is: what is the logic behind depriving the entire student community of its rights to choose its own fields of interest and then extending peace-meal tokens of charity to select communities, thereby adding discrimination to injustice? Firstly, is it a reasonable assumption that a child who does not seem to be showing signs of becoming a very good doctor, what he wants to be, would automatically have seeds of becoming a good accountant and an even better public administrator, what he never wanted to be? Should he not rather be left free to pursue his interest and struggle out his own way to become a good doctor? It seems that the government is hell-bent upon denying the streams of their own choice, particularly Sciences and Commerce to the vast majority of students studying in government schools, leaving them with no choice but to turn to private schools. Moreover, in view of the upcoming Assembly elections, the government has begun to see even school-education and even choices so fundamental as the choice of career, as means to cater to its vote-banks, by dividing students into categories such as SC, ST, OBC, minority, J & K migrant and so on. While so many categories have been found fit to be given relaxations, why not the entire student community? All India Parents Association demands greater autonomy to students across all strata and sections of society in making their career-choices through considerable relaxations in archaic stream-admission criteria, without any discrimination on grounds of caste, religion, region etc. ASHOK AGARWAL, ADVOCATE National President, AIPA M: 9811101923

Saturday, June 29, 2013

DE-RECOGNITION OF UNAIDED SCHOOL AFFECTS 420 STUDENTS

Parents and students of Geeta Ashram Vidya Mandir through Advocate Ashok Agarwal are shortly moving a petition in Hon'ble Delhi High Court seeking direction against the Director of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi to forthwith withdraw its order of de-recognition of the school resulting in mid-session closure of the school affecting 420 students. DOE offer of admission of the students in Government School is unacceptable by the parents and the students.

IT IS ALL CORRUPTION

Can you expect quality education from the so called qualified teachers who have obtained all degrees/diplomas without actually attending the courses? Once out of curiosity, I asked one of my diploma holder clients as to where is the Bhoj University from where you have done special education course. The answer was "I don't know".

Constitution right to free and quality education to every child is more a dead letter.

Each facility matters in a school. Children strength will increase with the increase of facilities in the school. Top of all, if good quality education is taking place in the school, children will stay in school despite lack of facilities. Unfortunately, in Government-run schools, neither facilities are available nor quality education is taking place. That is a main reason for high dropout rates and increase in number of child labor. This is also a reason that forces parents to prefer unaided private schools and subject themselves to exploitation at the hands of such private schools. The Constitution right to free and quality education to every child is more a dead letter.

Constitutional right to a dignified life has no meaning for millions of people

Poor father had only 20 rupees with him when he was supposed to take this morning his 17 years old ailing daughter to Maharaja Agarsen Hospital, Punjabi Bagh from his residence at Pandev Nagar, East-Delhi (one side auto fare is R.170/-). A social worker came to their aid. This patient is being treated free in the Hospital under ews category. What has been seen in many cases is that even when the medical treatment is free, poor patients don’t have money for conveyance to go to the hospital and back to home. Constitutional right to a dignified life has no meaning for millions of people of our country.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

HARASSMENT TO POOR PATIENT

Yesterday, a poor pregnant woman patient Komal was referred by Government-run Harish Chandra Hospital at Nerala to Sri Balaji Action Institute, Paschim Vihar without confirming about the availability of EWS Bed in the Hospital. The patient went to Sri Balaji Action Institute where she was advised to go to some other Hospital alleging that EWS Bed was not available in the Hospital. The mother of the patient contacted me. As she told me that the patient is critical, I advised her to take the patient to Government-run B.R.Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini. She took the patient to BRA Hospital. After about two hours, she was advised to take to some other hospital as no bed was available in the Hospital. It was really very disappointing state of affairs. Mother of the patient again contacted me and told me that the patient getting serious and none of the Hospitals are taking care of her. At this point of time, I contacted the Medical Superintendent of Bhagwati Hospital at Sector 13, Rohini and asked him, if he could admit patient Komal having 5 moths pregnancy. The M.S. of the Bhagwati Hospital promptly agreed to admit the patient in the Hospital. Now Komal is undergoing medical treatment in the Bhagwati Hospital under EWS category and her relatives are happy.

Monday, June 24, 2013

DELHI GOVT CLASS XI ADMISSION CRITERIA TO BENEFIT UNAIDED PRIVATE SCHOOLS

The Admission Criteria (2013-14) for grant of different streams to the students in Class XI in Government Schools as formulated by the Delhi Government is not only arbitrary and discriminatory but also motivated and malafide. It has resulted in depriving large number of talented students of commerce/science streams. The Delhi Government's clear intention is to provide only art stream in its own run schools forcing students interested in commerce/science stream to go to private unaided schools. In other words, down grading its own schools and promoting unaided private schools. The economically weaker students have to content themselves with the Art Stream as they cannot afford fee in unaided private schools. The Admission Criteria has been deliberately designed so to benefit the managements of the unaided private schools at the cost of the careers of the thousands of the economically weaker but talented students. The affected students must raise their voice to oppose this arbitrary and anti-students decision of the Delhi Government by way of organizing DHARNA in front of the residence of Prof. Kiran Walia, Delhi Education Minister. Aam Aadmi Party should also take up this issue on behalf of the Aam Students.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

NEVER GIVE UP THE HOPE

Yesterday, 12 years old very poor patient Radha suffering from Brain Tumour was brought to AIIMS, New Delhi on being referred by a Government Hospital at Aligarh (U.P.) for treatment by NGO worker Birender Singh accompanied by the patient’s father. AIIMS after subjecting the patient to some tests and finding that the patient is very critical advised for admission. However, on the ground of non-availability of bed, admission of the patient was denied and the patient was referred to RML Hospital. RML Hospital referred the patient to LNJP Hospital on the ground of non-availability the facility needed for the treatment. LNJP though kept the patient in its emergency ward but by the night, they told the patient’s attendant that they too do not have the required facility for the treatment and are referring the patient back to AIIMS. When told that bed is not available in AIIMS, the LNJP Hospital told the patient’s attendant to take the patient anywhere else. At request, the patient was allowed to stay in emergency ward in the night of 22-23/06/2013. NGO worker was in my contact since last morning when the patient was brought to AIIMS. I called him to my house today at 7.00 am and in his presence, talked to Dr. D.P.Saraswat, CEO, Sri Action Balaji Institute at Pachim Vihar seeking his help. He very kindly asked me to send the NGO worker with the medical document of the patient to the Hospital. Accordingly, the NGO worker went to the Hospital and the Doctors examined the documents. Thereafter, I got a call from Dr. Saraswat who told me that the hospital does not have the facility to treat the patient and such facility is available only either at AIIMS or Apollo Hospital. Dr.Saraswat also told me that the chances of survival of the patient are very low but if treatment is not given immediately, the patient would certainly die. I was very much upset because at AIIMS, bed is not available and so far Apollo Hospital is concerned, though free beds are available but Hospital charges for medicines and consumables, which is impossible to be afforded by the patient’s father who is a daily rated Beldar. Interestingly, the NGO who persuaded the patient’s father to take her to Delhi for treatment, after the patient’s father left all hopes and prepared himself to see the demise of her daughter, agreed to bear the expensed towards medicines and consumables at Apollo Hospital. In these circumstances, the patient was got referred by LNJP Hospital for Apollo Hospital under EWS category. The patient was brought to Apollo Hospital in emergency ward; the doctors examined her and advised for admission in ICU. However, the patient’s attendant was told to take the patient to some other hospital as ICU was not available. The entire exercise and the hope once again came to halt. Dr.Saraswat words were taking rounds in my mind and I was worried that the poor patient would die for want of treatment. I tried to contact DR. R.N.Dass of Delhi Health Services but he was not picking up my call. A vague idea stuck to me that I should take a chance to seek help from Mr. Lalit Bhasin, Lawyer for the Apollo Hospital. I rang him up and also sent a SMS. After half-an-hour, I got a call from Mr. Bhasin and after I explained him the position, he assured me all the help. Within minutes thereof, I was informed by Mr. Dharamveer, another worker of the NGO available at Apollo Hospital that Doctors at emergency ward have got a message from Hospital’s Director Dr. Annupam Sibal that the Hospital would arrange all facilities for the patient. Radha, who was by then almost lying unattended at the emergency ward, suddenly being taken all rounds care of by the Hospital. She has now been admitted in ICU and is being provided all care and facilities by the Apollo Hospital. Thanks to Advocate Lalit Bhasin.

Friday, June 21, 2013

LAND OF GODS OR LAND OF TRAGEDY

Uttrakhand which is believed as land of Gods has now turned into as land of biggest human Tragedy.

LAWYERS + TEAM SUNDAY 23 JUNE 2013 DOWN TO EARTH PROGRAMME

Lawyers Plus Team of Social Jurist led by Advocate Ashok Agarwal (M-09811101923) will visit Slums near Hyderpur Treatment Plant, Badli, Delhi on Sunday 23 June 2013 from 8.00 am to 10.00 am to interact with the Slum Dwellers (door to door) on right to education, right to health and labour rights. Those interested to join us may reach Bus Stop of Hyderpur Plant (nearest Metro Station Pitampura) by 8.00 am sharp. Contact person Mr. Ved Prakash Mob. 9268258830

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

DIFFICULT AND IMPORTANT TO FIGHT WITH ONE SELF

I have learned that the most difficult and important fight in my life is to fight with myself.

ANDHRA PARADESH GOVT SHOULD PASS RESOLUTION FOR CENTRAL ENACTMENT REGULATING FEE IN UNAIDED PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to appoint a cabinet sub-committee to regulate fee in unaided private schools. It is a welcome step. However, at the same time, Andhra Pradesh Government should pass a resolution in its Assembly asking the Central government to enact a Central Legislation regulating fee in the unaided private schools in the entire country. The law should also have provision for representation of at least 50% parents in the managing committee of an unaided private school. It is a need of the hour. Unaided private schools are exploiting not only the parents/students but also government and its own employees.

Monday, June 17, 2013

FREE OF COST MEDICAL TREATMENT TO VICTIMS

Section 357-C of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 mandates all hospitals, public or private, whether run by the Central Government, the State Government, local bodies or any other person, to immediately, provide the first-aid or medical treatment, free of cost to the victims of any offence under Section 326-A (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.), 376 (rape), 376-A (person committing an offence of rape and inflicting injury which causes death or causes the woman to be in a persistent vegetative state), 376-B (sexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation), 376-C (sexual intercourse by a person in authority), 376-D (gang rape) or Section 376-E (repeat offenders) of Penal Code and also to immediately inform the police of such incident. Section 166-B of the Penal Code, 1860 provides punishment for non-treatment of victim. It provides that whoever, being in charge of a hospital, public or private, whether run by the Central Government, the State Government, local bodies or any person, contravenes the provision of Section 357-C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both. The contravention of Section 166-B of the Penal Code is non-cognizable and bailable offence and is triable by the magistrate of the first class.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

UNHAPPY WITH DISCONTINUATION OF “TELEGRAM’

“Telegram” or “Phonogram” may not be very popular now-a-days but it does not mean that it has lost its relevancy and should be wired to history. In many cases, I have been using “Phonogram” mode to put my client’s grievance on record. In almost all cases where CBSE Class X and Class XII failed students are denied re-admission by their respective schools (private or government), I used to send emergency message to the school and the authority through “Phonogram” (By using my MTNL Landline Telephone). In many such cases, I received response from the school principal just after 3 or 4 hours of sending Phonogram that the school is willing to re-admit the student. I am really unhappy with the decision of Bharat Sanchar Nigam to discontinue “Telegram” services from July 15, 2013. The authorities should have taken views from AAM AADMI before taking such a decision. Such a decision on the part of the authorities, in my opinion, is not in public interest.

PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IS KNOWN BY PIL, IPL & PLI

Some people ask me to file PIL, some other ask me to file PLI and yet some other ask me to file IPL – I very well know that they are talking about Public Interest Litigation – It is really very interesting that many people have of course somewhat vague idea of Public Interest Litigation to redress their day to day problems – In fact, there is a real need to spread right kind of knowledge about the Public Interest Litigation amongst the masses.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

SHARING PAIN AND AGONY

A 30 years old female EWS patient Mamta r/o New Seelampur Jhuggi came to my office at Tis Hazari Courts with acute body pain in the morning of Saturday 08 June 2013 for help. Initially, I thought to get her admitted in Max Hospital, Patparganj, East Delhi but as I was going for inspection of Shanti Mukand Hospital, Vikas Marg Extension, East Delhi I took Mamta and her mother with me to Shanti Mukand Hospital and got Mamta admitted in the Hospital. On next day, Sunday, 09 June 2013, Mamta's poor mother called me through some body's else mobile phone and informed me that the Doctor has asked her to purchase some injections from the chemist shop and she has no money at all. I immediately talked to the Hospital's Doctor & Nurse and reminded them that Mamta is an EWS patient and the Hospital is obliged to provide every medicine free of cost to her. The Doctor & Nurse told me that as it was Sunday, Medical Superintendent was not there to sign the slip for free medicine and therefore, the patient has to purchase the medicine. Shockingly, despite prescription, Manta was not given the required medicines/injections on Sunday. In this backdrop, I was very much upset and even could not sleep well. Next day, Monday 10 June 2013, I reached Shanti Mukand Hospital at about 10.00 am to got Manta discharged from the Hospital and took her to Max Hospital, Patparganj. Doctors at Max Hospital immediately admitted her in Emergency and by the evening, she was shifted to the Ward where she is still undergoing medical treatment. I am really grateful to the Max Hospital and particularly to Mr. Krishanan, EWS Nodal Officer for their prompt response to my call.

CENTRAL LAW ON FEE IN UNAIDED PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Yesterday, I got a telephone call from the HRD Ministry, Government of India and was informed that the Ministry is examining my representation whereby I had requested the Union HRD Minister to enact a central legislation regulating fee in unaided private schools all over the country which should also contain a provision for inducting at least 50% parents' representative on the Managing Committee of the school. It was pointed out in the representation that unless adequate number of parents is not given place in the Managing Committee of an unaided private school, commercialization of education in these private schools cannot be checked. The attention of the Hon'ble Minister was also drawn to the observations of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court made in the judgment dated 12.08.2011 in W.P.(C) 7777/2009 to the effect that the Central Government should frame National Policy on Fee.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Having lost his four children to Gaucher’s disease in last 8 years, Sirajuddin battles to save his last surviving child

Mohd. Sirajuddin, 40, (9873536390) is a rickshaw puller living in Brahmapuri colony of Delhi (India) with his wife Anwari Begum, 35. However, in the last decade, he has spent most of his time battling to save his children from the hands of the deadly Guacher’s disease type-I, a rare genetic disorder characterized by high fever and bleeding. He has approached Advocate Ashok Agarwal of Social Jurist, member of the Delhi High Court-appointed monitoring committee on free treatment to EWS patients in private hospitals today. Seeing the urgency of the matter, Mr. Agarwal has suggested him to approach the Delhi government for any possible assistance before approaching the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. His family history is short and consistent. In 2005, he lost his 3-year old daughter, Gulnaaz, who had been admitted to Irwin Hospital. Only two years later, in 2007, Ghulam Mustafa, his 2 years and 9 months old son, died in Safdarjung Hospital. Roshan, his three year old daughter, was the third one to go, in 2009. She died at Kalawati Hosptial. Tamanna, his 11 months old infant-daughter, was the last, who died on May 4, 2012. Ironically, all the children were under treatment in government hospitals and these government hospitals were witness or rather mute spectators to the unfortunate deaths which resulted mainly from want of appropriate treatment, despite the patients being admitted to a government hospital, simply because Sirajuddin was not rich enough to bear the expenses. Mohd. Ahmed, his only surviving child, is 7 years old and presently undergoing treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi. He is in a highly critical state and weighs only 13 kgs. The department of Pediatrics, AIIMS, has estimated the cost of his treatment, Enzyme replacement therapy, at Rs. 4, 80, 000 (Four Lacs Eightly thousand rupees) per month. There is no provision for free treatment in normal course in AIIMS for this disease. Mohd. Sirajuddin has been running from pillar to post to save his last surviving child, Mohd. Ahmed. He has already been medically contra-advised against procreating more children in view of his genetic traits and those of his wife. This child is his last hope. He approached the Member of Parliament Shri Mahabal Mishra who was kind enough to forward his request on 31.05.2013 to the Prime Minister Relief Fund for aid in treatment. He has approached the Prime Minister’s Office twice ever since but has been turned away each time with a statement that he shall be informed via post in case his request is granted. With a large number of requests pending in bulky files, it may be just another case for them. For Sirajuddin, it is a do-or-die situation. Sirajuddin has approached the Directorate of Health Services, Government of Delhi, for assistance under Delhi Arogya Kosh scheme which provides financial assistance upto 5 lacs to EWS patients suffering from deadly diseases, subject to proper application and completion of documentary formalities, such as income certificate and proof of residence for last three years. He is hopeful of getting assistance from the same. However, one wonders how many people like Sirajuddin are capable of approaching the Delhi Government and furnishing all these documents? Does this scheme promise to cover all such EWS patients by providing them timely assistance to save their lives? And what about expenses beyond Rs. 5 lacs? Is it presumed that beyond that amount, the patient automatically becomes capable of bearing the expenses? In the present case, a 5 Lac-rupee assistance can only afford a one-month treatment to Sirajuddin’s child. What after that? Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M:- 9811101923 06.06.2013

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Deserted mother goes from riches to rags

VATSALA SHRANGI New Delhi | 25th May 2013 Radha was rescued by a Delhi-based NGO and admitted to the GTB hospital. Barefoot, semi-nude, around 67-year-old, this abandoned woman was found lying on the streets of Civil Lines in the national capital. She has been on the streets for five years, ever since she was deserted by her family. Now, having lost some of her mental faculties, she just smiles and asks for food if one approaches her. Ironically, the woman with a bony frame and swollen legs seen wandering on this road once used to own a house in this posh locality. She also had a job. She has since then remained unnoticed by society as well as by the local administration. Rescued recently from the main Rajpur Road near a vegetable store by the Social Jurist, an NGO run by advocate Ashok Agarwal, she was initially taken to the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IBHAS). However, found in a terrible medical condition, she was then shifted to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital in East Delhi for primary treatment. Shopkeepers in the area who used to feed her all these years reveal that she worked as a clerk with a private company and lived with her husband who was a driver with Tata Motors and two sons. The husband died around 20 years ago. "Long after her husband's death, the property was fraudulently taken over by her two sons who sold it and went away leaving her on the streets to meet her fate. The shock of being cheated by her own children has left her in the current state," said a shopkeeper at a vegetable store, who went to school with her elder son. "One of her sons had come once some time back to see her, but did not take her back home where he lives now in Mehrauli," he added. However, except for offering food and at times shelter, no one has cared enough to look after her mental or physical health. Sitting now on the hospital bed she feels secure and when questioned about her identity she answered merely said "Radha". She fell silent again and after a pause said, "Radha Tiwari". She has a solemn face and speaks proper Hindi, including a few words of English as well. Being prompted again on how she is feeling she says, "Here I get food and bed to sleep. I will go from here when I feel like." Meanwhile she talks to herself and when asked about her husband and family she points to her head and says, "His name was Babu Lal and he used to drive with Tata. I have two sons named Raju and Kanhaiya. They have gone," before she goes back to sleep again. We had to work hard to get her admitted to the hospital said Aarti Agarwal of the NGO. The hospital staff were reluctant to admit her since we did not have orders from the court and did not go by the police, which is essential in such cases. It was only after we took responsibility signing as her guardians and an intervention from the Delhi government's department for women and child development that she was admitted. Meanwhile, Dr Nimesh Desai, director of IBHAS, updating on her condition said that when she was brought to them her haemoglobin count was only 3.2. "We will be able to treat her only after she gains her general health," he said. The Sunday Guardian

Saturday, May 25, 2013

RTE KARYASHALA ON SUNDAY AT KANPUR

Advocate Ashok Agarwal, Member National Executive AAP (Mob. 09811101923) will conduct ‘RTE Karyashala’ on Sunday 26 May 2013 at 1.00 pm at Flames Restaurant, (First Floor), Near R.K.Devi Hospital, (THE CHAT) Swarup Nagar, Kanpur (U.P.). All are invited to attend the ‘RTE Karyashala’. Contact person Mr. Yogesh Kumar Srivastava Mob. 09335154449)

Friday, May 17, 2013

LAWYERS PLUS TEAM SUNDAY 19 MAY 2013 PROGRAMME

Lawyers Plus Team (Social Jurist) led by Advocate Ashok Agarwal will visit Slums at Gali no.10, Ram Dharam Kanta, Anand Parbat, Industrial Area, New Rohtak Road, New Delhi on Sunday May 19, 2013 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to health, right to education and labour rights. Those interested to join may please reach Ram Dharam Kanta by 8:00 am sharp. Contact person Mr. Salil Umat M-09013230140. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 17/05/2013

Sunday, May 12, 2013

UNAIDED SCHOOL FEE SCAM BEATS ALL OTHER SCAMS BUT NO ISSUE

Why ignoring unaided private schools fee scam? Despite the fact that unaided private schools fee scam is the biggest one, the same is being ignored because the political parties, bureaucrats and even media groups are not interested in raising this issue. The reason is simple. Majority of big unaided private schools are directly or indirectly run by the politicians, bureaucrats and media groups. Besides charging exorbitant, unjust and arbitrary fee under various heads, big schools are also charging donations ranging from 3 lacs to 15 lacs each fresh admission. No receipt is given in regard to donation amount. It is not that the authorities are unaware of all this. However, no action of any kind is taken against any unaided school. CAG in 2010, selected 25 unaided schools of Delhi on random basis and audited accounts and found that as many as 22 of them were having so much surplus that they were not required to increase any fee on the ground of 6th pay commission recommendations.

SOCIAL JURIST MOVES SUPREME COURT AGAINST DELHI HC JUDGMENT HOLDING RTE ACT DOES NOT APPLY TO CHILDREN BELOW 6 YRS AGE

TODAY we are going to file appeal in the Hon'ble Supreme Court against the judgment of Delhi High Court holding that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 does not apply to the pre-primary/nursery classes or the children below 6 years of age.

DTEA Senior Secondary School expels 8 Class I students

TODAY we are going to file a writ petition in Hon'ble Delhi High Court challenging the failure on the part of DTEA Senior Secondary School, Pusa Road, New Delhi to allow as many as 8 students to attend Class I in the academic year 2013-14. These students were admitted by the school in Nursery Class in the academic year 2012-13 and all of them have qualified Class Nursery Exams with good marks.

MONITORING COMMITTEE PULLS UP AN ERRING PRIVATE HOSPITAL

on Saturday 11 May 2013 , the High Court constituted Monitoring Committee made a surprise inspection of Mata Channan Devi Charitable Hospital, Janakpuri and found that Hospital was harassing EWS patients. The Hospital management was pulled up by the Monitoring Committee Members.

METRO HEART INSTITUTE OBLIGES TO PROVIDE FREE TREATMENT TO EWS PATIENTS

one more private hospital added to the list of identified private hospitals obliged to provide free treatment to EWS patients and now number of such hospitals have gone to 48 - Metro Heart Institute, Padav Nagar, Narina (near Shadipur Depot Metro Station) has also been added to the list of identified hospitals.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

LAWYERS PLUS TEAM SUNDAY 12 MAY 2013 PROGRAMME

Lawyers Plus Team (Social Jurist) led by Advocate Ashok Agarwal will visit Slums at Gali no.10, Ram Dharam Kanta, Anand Parbat, Industrial Area, New Rohtak Road, New Delhi on Sunday May 12, 2013 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to health, right to education and labour rights. Those interested to join may please reach Ram Dharam Kanta by 8:00 am sharp. Contact person Mr. Salil Umat M-09013230140. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 11/05/2013

Sunday, May 5, 2013

TALE OF A POOR FAMILY

Two weeks ago, the Lawyers Plus Team of Social Jurist, while visiting Dharampura Slums in East Delhi found a two years old child with heart problem. Poonam, the mother of the child told us that she had taken the child to G.B.Pant Hospital for treatment but as the hospital demanded money, she stopped going to the hospital. Poonam has three children. Her husband is doing the work of shoe polish and hardly earns two thousand rupees a month. When I asked her to come to my office at High Court next day, she said it will take two to three days as she has to collect money for conveyance. It was very painful to see that poverty preventing her even to move out for treatment of her son. Once I thought to pay her some money for conveyance but I did not do so believing that it would be a bad practice. One full week passed, she did not turn up to me. Only then I realized that something has to be done. I requested my friend Sunita Chouhan to go to the house of Poonam and bring her to me. Sunita brought Poonan and her ailing son to my office on 3/5/2013. I referred the child to Fortis Escort Heart Hospital for totally free treatment under EWS category. Next day, Sunita took Poonam and her son to Fortis Escort Heart Hospital and the Hospital immediately started providing treatment to the child.

only way to check rampant commercialization in unaided private schools

The only way to check rampant commercialization in unaided private schools is: Complete control of the school management by the parents. This is possible only when Central Government enacts a law in this regard. As long as it is not done the naked loot would continue.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

LAWYERS PLUS TEAM SUNDAY 05 MAY 2013 PROGRAMME

Lawyers Plus Team (Social Jurist) led by Advocate Ashok Agarwal will visit Slums at Seelampur, opp New Usmanpur Police Station and also opp Seelampur Metro Station, Delhi on Sunday May 05, 2013 from 8.00 am to 10.00 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to health, right to education and labour rights. Those interested to join may please reach at in front of New Usmanpur Police Station, Near Seelampur Metro Station by 8.00 am sharp. Contact Person Ashok Agarwal M-09811101923. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 04/05/2013

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

HC Notice to UGC on faulty evaluation in UGC-NET Examination Dec. 2012

The Delhi High Court (Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.S. Sistani) on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 issued notice to University Grants Commission on a petition by Ms. Shruti Jain and Ms. Amandeep Kaur, filed through Advocate Ashok Agarwal and sought reply within 4 weeks. The petition contends that the answer-key for English paper –II of UGC-NET Examinations held in December 2012, released by the UGC on which the UGC evaluation was based, wrongly acknowledged option A instead of option B as the correct answer to question no. 29, which led to lowering of the petitioners’ marks and denial of UGC-NET qualification to them. The said question was “_____ was the first sonnet-sequence in English.” The answer that appeared in the answer key was option A, i.e. “Edmund Spencer’s Amoretti” while according to the petitioners, the correct answer is option B, i.e. “Philip Sidney’s Astrophel and Stella”, which is backed by assertions of senior professors from several universities and over a dozen books and web-sources. “The action on the part of the UGC in denying UGC-NET qualification to the petitioners is illegal, unjustified, arbitrary, discriminatory, unreasonable, unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India”, argued Mr. Agarwal. The next date of hearing is fixed for 12.07.2013. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 01/05/2013

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

GREEDY SCHOOLS

some unaided private schools are indulging in looting the innocent parents even on account of examination. Schools deliberately fail every year 20-25 students in classes IX and XII and then ask the parents to pay Rs.20000/- to Rs.50,000/- each student for promoting such students to the next class. Those who don't pay are forced to take TC or to continue the students in the same class.

Friday, April 26, 2013

LAWYERS PLUS TEAM SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2013 PROGRAMME

Lawyers Plus Team (Social Jurist) led by Advocate Ashok Agarwal will visit Slums at Chandan Haula, New Delhi-110074, opposite Chandan Haula Bus Stand on Sunday, April 28, 2013 from 8.00 am to 10.00 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to health, right to education and labour rights. From 10:00 am to 12:30 pm a meeting with the students of Government and MCD schools of the area will be held in which the students shall write RTE-PIL post-cards to the Hon’ble Delhi High Court Chief Justice, highlighting violations of their right to education. Those interested to join may please assemble in front of Chandan Haula Bus Stand by 8.00 am sharp. Contact Person: Ashok Agarwal; M-09811101923. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate M-09811101923 26/04/2013

Thursday, April 18, 2013

fees hike by St. Josph sr sec school, defence colony, jalandhar (punjab)

Dear Ashok ji We are protesting agt yhe fees hike by St. Josph ser sec school, defence colony, jalandhar(punjab) upto 38.94% in comparison to last year(2012-13)fees here is the detail of fees strcuture for 2013-14 kulvinder singh 098155-01439

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

LAWYERS PLUS TEAM SUNDAY 21 APRIL 2013 PROGRAMME

Lawyers Plus Team (Social Jurist) led by Advocate Ashok Agarwal will visit Slums at Dharampura, opp Usmanpur Police Station and also opp Seelampur Merto Station, Delhi on Sunday April 21, 2013 from 8.00 am to 10.00 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to health, right to education and labour rights. Those interested to join may please reach at in front of Usmanpur Police Station, Near Seelampur Metro Station by 8.00 am sharp. Contact Person Ashok Agarwal M-09811101923.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

INDIA IS NOT SHINING FOR THEM

Scholarship, mid-day meal, uniform and this and that are totally irrelevant when teaching is not taking place in government schools. It appears that the black rulers may give children of the masses every thing but not education. Those who are talking of Dalits' rights must understand this and design some action plan to fight against this crude injustice.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

G.D. Salwan Public School illegally detains Master Harpreet Singh Anand in Class VIII in violation of RTE Act, 2009

ALL INDIA PARENTS ASSOCIATION Aggarwal Bhawan, G. T. Road, Tis Hazari, Delhi -110054 M- 09811101923, 9810133325 05/04/2013 To, Prof. Ms. Kiran Walia, Education Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi, Secretariat, I.P. Estate, New Delhi-110002. Subject: - G.D. Salwan Public School illegally detains Master Harpreet Singh Anand in Class VIII in violation of RTE Act, 2009 Dear Madam, It is brought to your notice that G.D.Salwan Public School, Pusa Road in violation of Section 16 of the RTE Act, 2009, has detained Master Harpreet Singh Anand S/o Sh. Harvinder Singh Anand, R/o 7/58, South Patel Nagar, New Delhi-110008 (9953323509) in class VIII in the academic year 2013-14. He has also not been given the report card of the Class VIII nor has been permitted to attend the class IX, Because of this, Master Harpreet Singh Anand is just sitting idle at home. It is submitted that the father of Master Harpreet Singh Anand has made a written complaint on dated 25/03/2013 to the Deputy Director of Education with a copy thereof to the undersigned. However, till date no action has been taken by the department of education. On 02 April, 2013, I have sent a phonogram to the school management requesting them to issue Annual Report Card to the Master Harpreet Singh Anand, promote him to class IX and allow him to attend classes. However, no response has been received so far from the school. The provisions of Section 16 of the RTE Act are reproduced as under “ 16. Prohibition of holding back and expulsion.- No child admitted in a school shall be held back in any class or expelled from school till the completion of elementary education.” It is submitted that the provisions of Section 16 of the RTE Act clearly prohibits a school to held back any child in any class or expel him from school till completion of elementary education. Therefore Master Harpreet Singh Anand is legally entitled to be promoted to class IX and is also entitled to attend class IX. It is, therefore, requested that necessary action may be taken in this matter immediately ensuring that the school issues annual report card to the Master Harpreet Singh Anand, promotes him to Class IX and allow him to attend said class during the academic year 2013-14. With regards, Ashok Agarwal, Advocate National President, AIPA M-09811101923

Mentally Retarded Girls want to study – Mainstream Delhi Government School says NO, Go to special school

ALL INDIA PARENTS ASSOCIATION Aggarwal Bhawan, G. T. Road, Tis Hazari, Delhi -110054 M- 09811101923, 9810133325 05/04/2013 To Prof. Ms. Kiran Walia, Education Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi Secretariat, I.P. Estate, New Delhi-110002 Sub: Mentally Retarded Girls want to study – Mainstream Delhi Government School says NO, Go to special school Dear Madam, 2 Muslim girls, namely, Tabassum, 16 yrs and Najmin,13 yrs, both daughters of Tajuddin, r/o House No. A-137, Shastri Mohalla, Patparganj, Delhi (mob 9268134440) suffering from Moderate Mental Retardation (I.Q. 36 & 43 respectively) Disability to the extent of 75% have complained to me that they have been approaching the principal of Sarvodya Kanya Vidyayala, Patparganj, Delhi-91 for the last two months continuously for admission in the school but the principal of the school has denied admission to these unfortunate poor children in violation of their rights under the provisions of RTE Act, 2009. These kids have never attended any school but now they are literally crying to go to school and study. It is unfortunate that despite Hon’ble Delhi High Court Orders in Social Jurist PIL and the provisions of RTE Act, 2009 as well, the Government Schools are denying admissions to the children with disabilities, particularly, when such children are suffering from Mental Retardation, Visual Impairment and Hearing Impairment. It is all shocking that despite Constitutional Guarantee to these children, a State-run school has denied them admission. The principal, instead of granting them admission advised their parents to get them admitted in any special school without realizing that the RTE Act provides them a legal right to study in a mainstream full time school. It appears that the Government is least interested in the education of the children with disabilities, otherwise, it would not have happened. It is a very serious matter. Even after 65 years of independence and three years of RTE Act, 2009, the Government Schools are still not sensitive and child-friendly. It is submitted that the Government has been running some special schools in the city. It would be appropriate for the Government to either convert all such special schools into mainstream schools or close them down as the same are being run in violation of RTE Act, 2009 particularly after 31.03.2013. You are requested to kindly look into the matter and do the needful on urgent basis. With regards, Ashok Agarwal, Advocate National President, AIPA M-09811101923

Muslim Girls want to study – Delhi Government School says NO

ALL INDIA PARENTS ASSOCIATION Aggarwal Bhawan, G. T. Road, Tis Hazari, Delhi -110054 M- 09811101923, 9810133325 05/04/2013 To Prof. Ms. Kiran Walia, Education Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi Secretariat, I.P. Estate, New Delhi-110002 Sub: Muslim Girls want to study – Delhi Government School says NO Dear Madam, 3 young girls in the age group 6-7 years belonging to Muslim Community have come to my office today morning complaining that they want to go to school to study but a Delhi Government School at Patparganj is not admitting them in school on the excuse that the school does not have seats for them. It is all shocking that despite Constitutional Guarantee to these children, a State-run school has denied them admission. It appears that the Government is least interested in the education of the children belonging to the minority community like Muslim, otherwise it would not have happened. Nasima Khatoon (DOB 26.01.2006) d/o Mohd Mustafa, Shenaj (DOB 07.08.2007) d/o Sadray Alam (M-9213982480) and Jasmeen (DOB 22.10.2006) d/o Aslam, all resident of E 77/224, Nehru Camp, I.P. Extension, Patpar Ganj, Delhi-110092 have been illegally denied admission by Sarvodya Kanya Vidyayala, Patparganj, Delhi-91. It is a very serious matter. Even after 65 years of independence and three years of RTE Act, 2009, the Government Schools are still not sensitive and child-friendly. You are requested to kindly look into the matter and do the needful on urgent basis. With regards, Ashok Agarwal, Advocate National President, AIPA M-09811101923

Friday, April 5, 2013

LAWYERS PLUS TEAM SUNDAY 07 APRIL2013 PROGRAMME

Lawyers Plus Team (Social Jurist) led by Advocate Ashok Agarwal will visit Slums at Nehru Camp, Patparganj, near Mother Diary, Delhi-91 on Sunday April 07, 2013 from 8.30 am to 10.30 am to interact with the slum dwellers (door to door) on right to health, right to education and labour rights. Those interested to join may please reach Mother Diary, Patparganj by 8.30 am sharp. Contact Person Sunita Chouhan M-9718579728.