Court suggests 15 per cent freeship in public schools

New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today asked the public schools, established on land allotted at a concessional rate, to provide at least 15 per cent freeship to the students from the weaker section of society.

A bench of Justices T S Thakur and S N Agrawal asked the schools, which are opposing the government notification to provide 20 per cent free education to the poor to arrive at a consensus so that a decision could be taken.

While adjourning the matter till May 14, the court said, ''If you agree we will decide. We do not want to waste time. We have devoted so much time on it.'' ''If the private unaided schools arrive at a consensus to provide free education to at least 15 per cent poor students, a decision could be arrived at,'' said the bench asking the schools to decide the matter in a week's time.

The court-appointed committee had recommended all the 361 public schools, built on subsidised public land, should reserve 20 per cent of their total seats for free education to poor students.

On January 31, some public schools had filed a petition challenging the Delhi government's notification, contending that of could not be implemented in its present form.

UNI