Seven year old moves court after denial of admission

NEW DELHI - Denied admission to the Kendriya Vidyalaya for being “overage”, a seven year old boy approached the Delhi High Court Thursday questioning the admission criteria of the central government school under the right to education law.

In his petition, Aman Kumar Chaudhary said that the school denied him admission on the basis of his age.

His father said: “The principal told me that my child was overage by one month and 2 days and, therefore, he was ineligible for admission in class I in terms of the guidelines for admission. She further told me that a child to be eligible for admission in class I must be between five to seven years as on March 31, 2010.”

The petition cited Article 21-A of the Constitution and provisions of the right to education (RTE) act, which came into force April 1, contending that the RTE act does not prescribe the maximum age for admission in class I.

“This school, coming under specified category of school under RTE act, 2009, had some specific criteria which was met by the petitioner. After the coming into effect of the RTE Act, 2009 how can the respondent-school say that the child is too old for class one? Now a child admitted over six, but below fourteen years has a right to education in the school in an age appropriate class,” the petition read.

Chaudhary’s father’s said that they had also sent the principal a notice requesting reconsideration of Aman’s case for admission in class I but no response has been received so far.

The petition is likely to be heard April 19.