Delhi School children from Economically Weaker Sections and Disadvantaged groups move Delhi HC demanding free summer uniforms, books

Nine students of the Bal Bharti School, Rohini, Delhi have approached the Delhi High Court, complaining about their school for its failure to provide free summer uniform and books to them.

These children, hailing from poor and disadvantaged sections, have asked the Court to direct their school to provide free books, two sets of summer uniforms and writing materials to them and continue providing these entitlements until they complete their education in the school.

The Petition notes that under the Right to Education Act (RTE), schools provide free books and uniforms to children from these categories. It hence seeks a direction to the DoE to appropriately deal with the school for their failure to comply the legal provisions. It also wants the DoE to frame a grievance redressal mechanism to address the grievance of the parents within a time frame.

Filed through Advocate Khagesh Jha, the Petition says that the school was allocated land on a concessional amount on the condition that they should admit 25 percent of the students from the economically weaker section (EWS) and disadvantaged groups (DG).

The Petitioners in the present case were admitted in the school under the EWS and DG category. In November last year, the Court had directed the schools to provide them two sets of winter uniforms and books, free of cost. The school however only provided one set of uniform. The students have now sought a direction to provide free summer uniform, books and writing materials.