NGO moves HC on reservation for EWS under RTE Act

New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) The Delhi High Court today soughtresponse from the Centre as well as the city government on anNGO''s plea opposing a reputed private school''s claim that itbeing a minority school be exempted from providing reservationto children of economically weaker sections under the Right ToEducation(RTE) Act.

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw issued the notice to theMinistry of HRD and the Directorate of Education, Delhigovernment, and sought their replies by March 30.

The court was hearing a plea by Social Jurists, anNGO, which opposed the stand taken by the Carmel ConventSchool and sought an order rejecting the school''s argument.

Appearing for the NGO, counsel Ashok Aggarwal said"Under section 12 of the RTE Act it is obligatory for allun-aided private schools to give admission to the EWS childrenand the provisions relating to reservation of seats for themis in larger public interest and deserved to be upheld by thiscourt".

"The presence of the children belonging to EWS in theprivate schools is not only beneficial for theunder-privileged sections but also to the children of well offsection," he argued.

According to the lawyer, the school had takengovernment land at a throw-away price with a condition that itwould provide free-of-cost education to some under-privilegedchildren but failed to comply with the condition.

He also said the High Court had in 2007 directed allprivate schools which have obtained government land on suchcondition to reserve 25 percent of the seats for childrenbelonging to disadvantaged groups.

After hearing the argument, the court fixed March 30as the next date of hearing.