DPEO asks city school to admit kids under RTE until Gujarat HC decision

The District Primary Education Officer (DPEO) has written to Udgam School for Children to admit those kids who have not got admission under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. While acknowledging that the case is pending in the Gujarat High Court, the DPEO, in the letter, stated that if there is no stay on the matter from the HC, the school should admit the children. Eventually, whatever the HC bench decides, will be followed. Mahesh Mehta, DPEO, said, "We have asked the schools – if there is no stay, if they can, they should admit the children as of now."

Replying to the letter of the DPEO, the school clarified that it has given admission to children who are over 6 years of age in class 1 and the rest of the kids, under 6 years, have been given admission in senior KG. The reply stated: "Students who completed 6 years have been admitted in class 1, and those under the age of 6 have been offered admission in senior KG. The court, in its order, had stated that it is open for the DPEO to send a fresh list of 30 children who have attained the age of 6 years. We have not received the said list from your office till date. Since the case is going on in the high court, your insistence to admit children who have not attained 6 years of age in class 1 is not justified and is contrary to the order dated June 7. We once again request you to send a fresh list of students who have attained 6 years of age for admission in class 1."

Three days ago, PAAS leader Hardik Patel and Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor had visited Udgam School, seeking admission of children under RTE.

AUTHORITIES SPEAK

While acknowledging that the case is pending in the Gujarat High Court, the DPEO, in the letter, stated that if there is no stay on the matter from the HC, the school should admit the children