DoE to reply on private schools' plea against using their buses: HC

NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the response of Delhi education department on a plea against its direction to private unaided schools to provide their buses to run as public transport during the operation of the odd-even scheme from January 1 to 15.

Justice Hima Kohli did not issue any interim order against the Department of Education's (DoE) direction after the AAP government said no coercive steps would be taken against those schools which do not give buses for the scheme.

It, however, issued notice to DoE and sought its reply by January 14, the next date of hearing.

Senior standing counsel for Delhi government Rahul Mehra, who appeared for DoE, told the court that 1700 buses have been voluntarily provided by several private unaided schools.

He also said no private unaided school has been compelled or coerced into giving their buses.

Mehra also questioned the maintainability of the plea filed by Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools, saying the body has not given any details as to which schools are their members or who among them were forced to give their buses.

The query regarding the names of the association members as well as who among them were forced to give their buses for the scheme was raised by the court also.

During arguments, senior advocate JP Sengh, appearing for the association, told the court that DoE does not have the authority to issue directions to private unaided schools to give their buses for the scheme.

The association has challenged DoE's orders of December 18 and December 21 by which the schools were directed to give their buses, along with their drivers and cleaners.

DoE had also directed the private unaided recognised schools on December 21 to ensure that their buses get registered over the next two days, the association's petition filed through advocate Pramod Gupta said.