SC refuse to stay nursery admission but agrees to hear plea of private unaided schools

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the nursery admission process in the national capital, but agreed to hear the plea of private unaided schools on the issue on January 31.

Questioning the private schools for raising objections on the Lieutenant Governor's notification for scrapping the management quota, a bench head by Justice H L Dattu said the decision must have been taken after considering all the facts.

" LG is not only a good academician but also a good educationists," the bench said.

It also observed that the private schools take extra fees for admitting student in management quota.

"Let it (admission) go on," the bench said, while posting the case for hearing on January 31.

The LG had on December 18 and 27 issued the guidelines by which various steps, including weightage to neighbourhood children and abolition of 20 per cent management quota, were taken.

The court's direction came on a plea moved by unaided private schools, which had challenged the order of the Delhi High Court which refused to stay the guidelines and ordered the city government to immediately notify new dates of admission.

Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education for All, had challenged the order of the Delhi High Court.

The high court had dismissed their plea for interim stay, saying that any interference will prove "detrimental" to the interests of children.

"We, therefore, are of the view that the appellants have not been able to satisfy us of any irreparable loss and injury to them from the non-grant of the interim order sought.

"We are further in agreement with the learned single judge that any interference at this stage would create confusion and would be detrimental to the interests of children as well as parents of the wards who are seeking admission," the high court had said.