By IANS,
New Delhi : Slamming the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for demolishing a school on the banks of the Yamuna river last month, the Delhi High Court Wednesday told the state government to accommodate the institution’s 150 students in other schools.
The court also asked the Delhi government and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board along with the DDA to provide transport facility to the students.
The division bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna said every child between the ages of 6-14 years had the right to free and compulsory education.
So, it is obligatory on the part of the government, the DDA and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to accommodate them in other schools, the court said.
“The government and civic agencies should take positive steps to accommodate all the students in their vicinity instead of throwing them out of school,” said the court.
“They should also provide a pick-up and drop facility to the students, as it would not be possible for their parents to do so,” said the bench, directing that the respondents should file responses by Aug 26, the next date of hearing.
The court said this while taking note of a petition filed by an NGO.
The petitioner said that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, included obligations on the local authorities to provide and support the education of children, along with ensuring the availability of a neighbourhood school.
Petitioner’s lawyer Jayshree Satpute said: “Direction should be given to the DDA to immediately restore the school that was demolished July 18, and reimburse NGO Van Phool and others who arranged temporary tents for makeshift classes.”
“Direct the DDA to stop demolitions of the farmers’ temporary structures, and in particular, of any structures set up for the educational purposes of the farmers’ children,” said the petition.
The petitioner said that the Van Phool Primary School, Yamuna Bazar, was completely funded by voluntary donations and catered to 150 students aged 3-10.