HC slams DDA for demolishing school run by NGO

Updated on: Monday, August 22, 2011

The Delhi High Court rapped DDA for demolishing a school run by an NGO, saying the government and its agencies are required to provide free education to children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

"The RTE Act provides for free and mandatory education to all till the age of 14 and it is their fundamental right. So, it is obligatory on the government, DDA and MCD. Therefore, they should take positive steps to accommodate students in schools in their vicinity instead of throwing them out," a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said.

"The government agencies should not resort to such acts (demolition)," the court said.

The court was hearing the petition of NGO 'Van Phool' that the land developing agency had on July 18 demolished its school at Yamuna Bazar here. Around 150 poor kids were getting free education there.

The NGO's counsel Jayshree Satpute said a "direction be given to DDA to either restore the school which was demolished on July 18 and or reimburse the NGO to enable it to construct the school again."

The school, being run on donations, was serving around 150 students of the age group of 3 to 10 years, the NGO said.

Now, the NGO is left with no infrastructure and students are forced to study under the open sky, it said.

"Without any shelter, it is likely that many students will drop out. Students, who may return to school, will certainly suffer in their studies," the petition said.

The act of DDA was violative of the RTE Act which provides for free and mandatory education to all, it said.

HC slams DDA for demolishing school run by NGO

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