Set house in order: HC tells government on scrapping of management quota in private schools

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today told the AAP government to "set its house in order" by administering its schools and improving them instead of trying to "take over" admission process of private unaided schools.

"One major reason for all this is the poor state of public schools. No one is addressing that issue. Those people (government) who can't administer a public school are trying to take over admissions of private schools.

"Please set your house in order. Then there would be no reason for people to rush to private schools," Justice Manmohan said.

He made the observation while issuing notice to the Delhi government and asking it to respond to the pleas by private schools seeking quashing of government's January 6 order scrapping 62 criteria, including management quota, for nursery admissions.

The court also expressed doubts over scrapping of all 62 criteria, except for some like quotas for children whose parents were vegetarians, non-alcoholics or non-smokers.

Such criteria, if being implemented by any private school for admissions, amounts to maladministration, the court said.

It, however, clarified that parents as of now can apply even as per the 62 criteria, but "scrutiny of applications would be subject to final orders" in the petitions by Forum for Promotion of Quality Education and Action Committee of Unaided Recognized Private Schools.