New Delhi, April 4 (Inditop.com) A 12-year-old girl, who was dropped from the rolls of St. Xavier’s School here last month after she failed in her class 6 examinations, has approached the Delhi High Court challenging her expulsion.
“The school’s action is illegal, specially at a time when the Right to Education Act (RTE) has been enforced in the country.” said Ashok Agarwal, counsel of Suman Bhati.
“It is unethical and violates provisions of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,” Agarwal said.
Suman’s father Naresh Bhati said that the school, on Raj Niwas Marg, informed him about the decision March 27 when he went to collect the report card.
Demanding action against the school and the Directorate of Education, the petition stated: “It is unfortunate that at a time when the government is coming up with laws, schemes and policies to encourage the girl child to study more, St. Xavier’s school is trying to jeopardise a class 6 girl’s future by expelling her.”
On the other hand, the school said that since Suman had failed in her final term exams for class 4 as well as class 6, she has to leave the school according to the rules.
However, Agarwal said: “The school has no authority in law to remove Suman as she has yet not completed her elementary education and is not yet 14. In any case, a student cannot be removed from the school on the ground that she has failed in a class.”
The petition is likely to be heard early next week.
rounak