Urban News

The Pioneer  24.11.2010

Staff Reporter | New Delhi

The Delhi High Court has directed the MCD to extend the retirement age of school headmasters by two years to the age of 62, a benefit currently enjoyed by teachers employed in schools run by the civic agency.

Dismissing an appeal by the MCD which had challenged a tribunal order in favour of two MCD school headmasters, a Division Bench of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Sidharth Mridul held that headmasters are entitled to all the benefits granted to teachers as they also teach students besides performing administrative duties. The MCD had submitted that the headmasters were not entitled to the benefits granted to the teachers.

The two principals had submitted that as headmasters of primary schools, since in addition to performing the administrative duties they taught in class rooms, they had to be treated as teachers. Their pay-band was equal to a TGT in Government of NCT of Delhi, thus they were entitled to re-employment till they attain the age of 62 years.

Hindustan Times  23.11.2010

City’s primary schools not complying with government’s mandatory order of reserving 20% seats for the economically weaker sections (EWS) may soon be de-recognised by the MCD. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) education department — which is carrying out a survey of such schools — has already identified few schools that will be sent showcause notices.

The Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar; Himalaya School, Rohini; and DEZY, Rohini, Sector 16, are some of the schools identified by the MCD that have violated the orders on seat reservation for EWS.

According to sources, there are about 100 schools that will face action, a list of which is being prepared by the education department of the MCD. A meeting also scheduled for Tuesday on the issue.

“Following complaints from parents who belong to EWS, we decided to carry out a survey,” said Mahender Nag-pal, chairman (education committee), MCD. “Our deputy education officers have already surveyed The Shri Ram School, Himalaya School and DEZY School and will issue showcause notices for not fulfilling the criteria

“Our officers were denied entry at a number of schools. If they fail to comply, they will be de-recognised,” Nagpal added, saying, “Survey is on at 100 other schools and a report will be out soon.”

The civic agency has asked its education department to conduct a survey of all such schools, which were given land from Delhi Development Authority (DDA) but have not filled all the seats from the EWS.

“As per the Delhi government's list, there are 394 schools which were given land at cheaper price from the DDA. But as per our estimate there are 100 more schools that have got land at cheaper price but are not following the guidelines,” said Ashok Aggarwal, advisor of Social Jurist, a civil rights group.

According to the survey, Sri Ram School, Vasant  Vihar has a total of 575 students, of which, only 24 students from EWS have been given admission in nursery and class 1.

“They should have admitted 110 students under the EWS category. We have asked them to reply to the show cause notice,” Nagpal added.

However, the school denied the charges. “The DDA hasn’t given land at throwaway prices as is assumed. Whatever the price was quoted, we bought it at that. The lease letter does not quote any percent of EWS students to be admitted. Two years back, the court had said that minimum 10% should be reserved for EWS and 5% for wards of teachers,” said Manju Bharat Ram, chairperson, Sri Ram School.

As per a statutory regulation of January 25, 2007, it has been made mandatory by the government that schools that have been built on the public land and have been allotted land at throwaway prices are obliged to provide free ship and admission to the extent of 20% to students from the economically weaker sections of the society.