Thursday, July 15, 2010

National Tragedy - Delhi Government School denies admission to Uzma Bano and Samreen Bano on the pretext of “overage”


To 16.07.2010
Hon’ble Smt. Sheila Dikshit
Chief Minister of Delhi
Delhi Secretariat
I.P Estate
New Delhi-110002

Sub: - National Tragedy - Delhi Government School denies admission to Uzma Bano and Samreen Bano on the pretext of “overage”

Respected Madam,

Is it not a national tragedy that government schools of the Capital City of India invariably denies admission to the students on one pretext or the other? The government schools are the only hope for the children of the masses and if these schools refuse to even grant admission to the children (leave aside the question of good quality education), where would these children go? Constitution of India may guarantee right to equality (Art.14), right to life with dignity (Art.21), right to education (Art.21-A) and right to social justice (Art.38) but the hard reality is that right to good quality education is only available to the children of the rich. It must be realized by the ruler of this country that the denial of good quality education to the children would only add children to the Army of Child Labour.

That Kumari Uzma Bano and Kumari Samreen Bano, both d/o Mohammad Zaffar, r/o D-156, Sharma Building, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi-110096 have been denied admission in class IX and VI respectively by the principal of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi-110096 on the alleged ground of “overage” despite the fact that Deputy Director of Education, District East had directed the principal to admit these girls in the school. It is not only most unfortunate but also illegal, unconstitutional, unjust, inhuman and unethical on the part of the Principal. Instances of Uzma Bano and Samreen Bano are only illustrative.

Kumari Uzma Bano has passed Class VIII from Purv Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Hetampuri, Masoli, Barabanki (U.P) in 2007-2008 whereas Kumari Samreen Bano has passed Class V from Madarsa Taleemud, Baryara, Barabanki, (U.P) in the academic year 2007-2008.

It is submitted that both these girls could not continue their studies due to family problem. However, in the year 2009-2010, their parents tried to get them admitted in Government Girls Senior Secondary School, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi-110096 but admission was denied. The parents have also approached the school this year for admission of their wards but the school has again denied them admission.

That thereafter, the parents approached us and we wrote letters dated 05.07.2010 to Mrs. Usha Kumari, Deputy Director of Education, District East with a request to help these


students in getting admission in Government Girls Senior Secondary School, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi-110096 in the academic year 2010-2011. The Deputy Director of Education made an endorsement on 06.07.2010 on the letter relating to Kumari Uzma Bano to the effect “H.O.S –Sarvoday Kanya Vidyalaya, New Ashok Nagar. Please admit in class IX”. The Deputy Director of Education similarly made an endorsement on 06.07.2010 on the letter relating to Kumari Samreen Bano to the effect “H.O.S –Sarvoday Kanya Vidyalaya, New Ashok Nagar. Please admit in class VI”.

It is submitted that thereafter, the parents and these girl students approached the said school but the Principal denied admission on the pretext of “overage”. It is submitted that Kumari Uzma Bano and Kumari Samreen Bano are not the only girls who have been denied admission by a government school but there are hundreds and hundreds of such girls who have been denied admission by the government schools in Delhi. It is no less a mockery of the Right to Education and moreover it exposes the government of Delhi which claims themselves to be serious about the education of the girl child. It is needless to say that due to realization of need of education in the present era of globalization, liberalization and privatization, more and more Muslim girls are coming forward to take education in Formal School system but the Government of Delhi has utterly failed to provide them the educational opportunity.

It is submitted that the action on the part of school to deny admission to these two girls is contrary to the provisions of Delhi School Education Act, 1973 and Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 beside being violative of the fundamental Right to Education as guaranteed to these students under Article 21 (Right to life with dignity), Article 21-A (Right to Education) and Article 38 (Right to Social Justice) of the Constitution of India.

It is submitted that we have sent a phonogram dated 15/07/2010 to the Director of Education and to the Principal of the school requesting for immediate admission of these girl students but no response has been received so far. It may be stated that these girl students have valid transfer certificates with them.

You are therefore requested to kindly intervene in this matter on urgent basis and issue necessary directions to the Principal, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi-110096 to immediately admit Uzma Bano in class IX and Samreen Bano in class VI. It is also requested that the erring official responsible for harassment of the parents and the students may kindly be taken to task.

With regards,



Ashok Agarwal,
Advocate
Advisor, Social Jurist,
M-9811101923

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