'Purpose of quota will be defeated'

The whole purpose of reservation of seats for economically weaker sections and disadvantaged category will be defeated if seats for them in schools are allowed to go waste on account of neighbourhood criteria, the Delhi High Court has said and ordered a school to admit two students who lived some distance away.

It said the seats in these categories are limited while the demand is much higher. Therefore, while allotting seats for admission under the EWS or DG category, it may not be possible for the Directorate of Education to follow the criteria of neighbourhood strictly, the court said. "This court notes that in the present social milieu, the demand for admission under the EWS/ DG category is much higher as compared to the number of seats that are available for allotment under the EWS/ DG category.