School says no since she has not attended classes for a year; But education dept, RTE Act favour the girl.
The row between the Lokhandwala Foundation School in Kandivli (E) and a student's family is snowballing into a major crisis now.
The Class V student, who has not attended school from August 2013 to March 2014, returned one day this year and her parents wanted her to be admitted to Class VII. The school said it had already struck down her name from the rolls.
On Wednesday, when her parents protested outside the school with 150 supporters and forcibly made the student sit in class VII, the school said it will remain closed till the issue is resolved.
Though teachers and other parents stand with the school management, the law does not.
Says BD Puri, education inspector, western zone: "The school cannot remain closed like this. As per Right to Education Act, a school should admit a child to a class appropriate to her age till Class 8, irrespective of whether she has discontinued classes midway of not."
Which means, in this case, the child, aged 12 years old, should be admitted to case Class VII.
In January 2014, the school had sent an email to the parents saying that the child's name will be struck off the register and will not be allowed to sit for the final exams.
The student's father claims that the education department had ordered the school to enroll his daughter back to the school, but the school refused to do so.
"I have the deputy director's order of September 2015, asking the school to admit my daughter to a class appropriate to her age or else they (deputy director) will have to take action against the school... The school is misguiding other parents and inciting parents against me," he charged.
Puri agrees. "A month back, I had sent a notice to the school that its NOC can get cancelled, but the school claims they have challenged the notice. Till now, we have not received any notice from any court or school," the official said.
On Thursday, the school authorities had sent a mail to parents saying that the school will remain closed till further notice.
On Saturday, teachers and staff sent another mail to parents saying that classes will resume only for 10th standard students from Tuesday. They also said that the school will remain closed for other classes till they get in writing that neither the parents nor the child will be allowed to the school hereon.
Some PTA members have approached the police. DS Yadav, senior inspector, Samta Nagar, said: "Some PTA members have submitted a complaint to us and asked for protection. We have provided protection to the school."
Yadav also said that the parent had shown him a copy of the education department letter. "The parent has showed us the education officer's letter that states the child should be reinstated, which the school refuses to do. We have asked the education officer about this matter and are expecting a reply on Monday."
School officials could not be contacted for comments.
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