Delhi High Court Issues Notice On PIL Against Private Schools Forcing EWS Students To Purchase Expensive Books

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (August 27) issued notice on a PIL alleging “systematic exclusion” of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students from private schools in the national capital “through forced purchase” of expensive private publisher books and excessive school materials.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela sought response of the Delhi Government, CBSE and NCERT.

The plea has been filed by Jasmit Singh Sahni- Director of Doon School, through Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput. The petitioner was represented by Advocate Amit Prasad.

The plea seeks “urgent judicial intervention” to address the “commercialisation of education in CBSE-affiliated private schools.”

The petition has submitted that private schools in Delhi are systematically excluding EWS or DG (disadvantage group) children admitted under the RTE Act by forcing parents to purchase expensive private publisher books costing Rs. 10,000-12,000 annually.

“The Delhi government provides only ₹5,000 per annum reimbursement, creating an unbridgeable gap that forces EWS families to withdraw admissions. This defeats the 25% reservation mandate for disadvantaged children,” the plea states.

It adds that despite CBSE circulars issues in 2016-2017 mandating exclusive use of NCERT books, private schools are prescribing expensive private publisher books.

As per the plea, while NCERT books cost approximately Rs. 700 annually, private publishers books cost over Rs. 10,000.

“Excessive books violate the School Bag Policy 2020, which caps bag weight at 10% of child's body weight. Students carry 6-8 kg bags, causing musculoskeletal damage and psychological stress RTI Revelations,” it has been submitted.

The plea proposes a "Fixed Rate - Fixed Weight System" where private publisher books should be priced based on objective criteria like page count, paper quality (GSM), and NCF compliance.

The Court has granted four weeks time to the authorities to file their response in the matter.

The case will now be heard on November 12.