SC refuses to stay order on nursery admission

, Jan 31: The

today refused to stay the interim order on

admission process in the national capital but asked the Delhi High Court to expeditiously hear the pleas against the guidelines by advancing the scheduled hearing.

A bench headed by Justice H L Dattu said since the order of the high court was in the nature of an interim order, it was not interfering with it and asked the high court to hear the issues raised as expeditiously as possible in the interest of the schools and welfare of the children. The apex court gave liberty to the petitioners, Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools, Forum for Promotion of Quality Education for All and some parents to make an application before the single judge of the high court for advancing the March 11 hearing.

"Since the interim order is in the nature of refusal to grant interim relief, we also do not intend to interfere with that order. Therefore, we reject the Special Leave Petition. "We request the single judge of the high court to consider and make all endeavour as expeditiously as possible the hear the petitions in the interest of the schools and welfare of the children," the bench also comprising S A Bobde said.

While giving liberty to the aggrieved parties to make an application before the single judge for advancement of March 11 hearing, the bench said "If such application is made, the single judge is requested to consider the plea and expedite the hearing". Disposing the appeals against the high court's order, the bench made it clear that it is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter.

The apex court agreed with the pleas of--Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education for All--raising objections to a paragraph in the division bench's verdict and expunged those lines from the judgement. The division bench of the high court has confirmed the order passed by the single judge which had refused to stay the December 18, 2013 guidelines of the Lieutenant Governor (LG).

PTI